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



                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for SB 1186

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 283902

                            CHAMBER ACTION
              Senate                               House
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  4  ______________________________________________________________

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10  ______________________________________________________________

11  Senator Clary moved the following amendment:

12

13         Senate Amendment (with title amendment) 

14         Delete everything after the enacting clause

15

16  and insert:

17         Section 1.  Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (2) of

18  section 288.0655, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

19         288.0655  Rural Infrastructure Fund.--

20         (2)(a)  Funds appropriated by the Legislature shall be

21  distributed by the office through a grant programs program

22  that maximize maximizes the use of federal, local, and private

23  resources, including, but not limited to, those available

24  under the Small Cities Community Development Block Grant

25  Program.

26         (b)  To facilitate access of rural communities and

27  rural areas of critical economic concern as defined by the

28  Rural Economic Development Initiative to infrastructure

29  funding programs of the Federal Government, such as those

30  offered by the United States Department of Agriculture and the

31  United States Department of Commerce, and state programs,

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for SB 1186

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 283902





  1  including those offered by Rural Economic Development

  2  Initiative agencies, and to facilitate local government or

  3  private infrastructure funding efforts, the office may award

  4  grants to applicants for such federal programs for up to 30

  5  percent of the total infrastructure project cost. Eligible

  6  projects must be related to specific job-creation or

  7  job-retention job creating opportunities. Eligible projects

  8  may also include improving any inadequate infrastructure that

  9  has resulted in regulatory action that prohibits economic or

10  community growth or reducing the costs to community users of

11  proposed infrastructure improvements that exceed such costs in

12  comparable communities. Eligible uses of funds shall include

13  improvements to public infrastructure for industrial or

14  commercial sites and upgrades to or development of public

15  tourism infrastructure. Authorized infrastructure may include

16  the following public or public-private partnership facilities:

17  storm water systems; telecommunications facilities; roads or

18  other remedies to transportation impediments; nature-based

19  tourism facilities; or other physical requirements necessary

20  to facilitate tourism, trade, and economic development

21  activities in the community. Authorized infrastructure may

22  also include publicly owned self-powered nature-based tourism

23  facilities and additions to the distribution facilities of the

24  existing natural gas utility as defined in s. 366.04(3)(c),

25  the existing electric utility as defined in s. 366.02, or the

26  existing water or wastewater utility as defined in s.

27  367.021(12), or any other existing water or wastewater

28  facility, which owns a gas or electric distribution system or

29  a water or wastewater system in this state where:

30         1.  A contribution-in-aid of construction is required

31  to serve public or public-private partnership facilities under

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for SB 1186

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 283902





  1  the tariffs of any natural gas, electric, water, or wastewater

  2  utility as defined herein; and

  3         2.  Such utilities as defined herein are willing and

  4  able to provide such service.

  5         Section 2.  Paragraphs (b) and (c) of subsection (3) of

  6  section 288.095, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

  7         288.095  Economic Development Trust Fund.--

  8         (3)

  9         (b)  The total amount of tax refund claims approved for

10  payment by the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic

11  Development based on actual project performance may not exceed

12  the amount appropriated to the Economic Development Incentives

13  Account for such purposes for the fiscal year. In the event

14  the Legislature does not appropriate an amount sufficient to

15  satisfy estimates projections by the office for tax refunds

16  under ss. 288.1045 and 288.106 in a fiscal year, the Office of

17  Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development shall, not later than

18  July 15 of such year, determine the proportion of each refund

19  claim which shall be paid by dividing the amount appropriated

20  for tax refunds for the fiscal year by the estimated projected

21  total of refund claims for the fiscal year. The amount of each

22  claim for a tax refund shall be multiplied by the resulting

23  quotient. If, after the payment of all such refund claims,

24  funds remain in the Economic Development Incentives Account

25  for tax refunds, the office shall recalculate the proportion

26  for each refund claim and adjust the amount of each claim

27  accordingly.

28         (c)  By December 31 September 30 of each year,

29  Enterprise Florida, Inc., the Office of Tourism, Trade, and

30  Economic Development shall submit a complete and detailed

31  report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, the

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for SB 1186

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 283902





  1  Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the director of

  2  the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development board

  3  of directors of Enterprise Florida, Inc., created under part

  4  VII of this chapter, of all applications received,

  5  recommendations made to the Office of Tourism, Trade, and

  6  Economic Development, final decisions issued, tax refund

  7  agreements executed, and tax refunds paid or other payments

  8  made under all programs funded out of the Economic Development

  9  Incentives Account, including analyses of benefits and costs,

10  types of projects supported, and employment and investment

11  created. Enterprise Florida, Inc., The Office of Tourism,

12  Trade, and Economic Development shall also include a separate

13  analysis of the impact of such tax refunds on state enterprise

14  zones designated pursuant to s. 290.0065, rural communities,

15  brownfield areas, and distressed urban communities. By

16  December 1 of each year, the board of directors of Enterprise

17  Florida, Inc., shall review and comment on the report, and the

18  board shall submit the report, together with the comments of

19  the board, to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and

20  the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The report must

21  discuss whether the authority and moneys appropriated by the

22  Legislature to the Economic Development Incentives Account

23  were managed and expended in a prudent, fiducially sound

24  manner. The Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development

25  shall assist Enterprise Florida, Inc., in the collection of

26  data related to business performance and incentive payments.

27         Section 3.  Section 288.1045, Florida Statutes, is

28  amended to read:

29         288.1045  Qualified defense contractor tax refund

30  program.--

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

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for SB 1186

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 283902





  1         (a)  "Consolidation of a Department of Defense

  2  contract" means the consolidation of one or more of an

  3  applicant's facilities under one or more Department of Defense

  4  contracts either from outside this state or from inside and

  5  outside this state, into one or more of the applicant's

  6  facilities inside this state.

  7         (b)  "Average wage in the area" means the average of

  8  all wages and salaries in the state, the county, or in the

  9  standard metropolitan area in which the business unit is

10  located.

11         (c)  "Applicant" means any business entity that holds a

12  valid Department of Defense contract or any business entity

13  that is a subcontractor under a valid Department of Defense

14  contract or any business entity that holds a valid contract

15  for the reuse of a defense-related facility, including all

16  members of an affiliated group of corporations as defined in

17  s. 220.03(1)(b).

18         (d)  "Office" means the Office of Tourism, Trade, and

19  Economic Development.

20         (e)  "Department of Defense contract" means a

21  competitively bid Department of Defense contract or

22  subcontract or a competitively bid federal agency contract or

23  subcontract issued on behalf of the Department of Defense for

24  manufacturing, assembling, fabricating, research, development,

25  or design with a duration of 2 or more years, but excluding

26  any contract to provide goods, improvements to real or

27  tangible property, or services directly to or for any

28  particular military base or installation in this state. The

29  term includes contracts or subcontracts for products or

30  services for military use which contracts or subcontracts are

31  approved by the United States Department of Defense, the

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for SB 1186

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 283902





  1  United States Department of State, or the United States Coast

  2  Guard.

  3         (f)  "New Department of Defense contract" means a

  4  Department of Defense contract entered into after the date

  5  application for certification as a qualified applicant is made

  6  and after January 1, 1994.

  7         (g)  "Jobs" means full-time equivalent positions,

  8  consistent with the use of such terms by the Agency for

  9  Workforce Innovation Department of Labor and Employment

10  Security for the purpose of unemployment compensation tax,

11  resulting directly from a project in this state. This number

12  does not include temporary construction jobs involved with the

13  construction of facilities for the project.

14         (h)  "Nondefense production jobs" means employment

15  exclusively for activities that, directly or indirectly, are

16  unrelated to the Department of Defense.

17         (i)  "Project" means any business undertaking in this

18  state under a new Department of Defense contract,

19  consolidation of a Department of Defense contract, or

20  conversion of defense production jobs over to nondefense

21  production jobs or reuse of defense-related facilities.

22         (j)  "Qualified applicant" means an applicant that has

23  been approved by the director to be eligible for tax refunds

24  pursuant to this section.

25         (k)  "Director" means the director of the Office of

26  Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development.

27         (l)  "Taxable year" means the same as in s.

28  220.03(1)(z).

29         (m)  "Fiscal year" means the fiscal year of the state.

30         (n)  "Business unit" means an employing unit, as

31  defined in s. 443.036, that is registered with the Agency for

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for SB 1186

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 283902





  1  Workforce Innovation Department of Labor and Employment

  2  Security for unemployment compensation purposes or means a

  3  subcategory or division of an employing unit that is accepted

  4  by the Agency for Workforce Innovation Department of Labor and

  5  Employment Security as a reporting unit.

  6         (o)  "Local financial support" means funding from local

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

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

  9  annual tax refund for a qualified applicant. Local financial

10  support may include excess payments made to a utility company

11  under a designated program to allow decreases in service by

12  the utility company under conditions, regardless of when

13  application is made. A qualified applicant may not provide,

14  directly or indirectly, more than 5 percent of such funding in

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

16  directly or indirectly, state funds appropriated from the

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

18  revenues shared with local governments pursuant to law.

19         (p)  "Contract for reuse of a defense-related facility"

20  means a contract with a duration of 2 or more years for the

21  use of a facility for manufacturing, assembling, fabricating,

22  research, development, or design of tangible personal

23  property, but excluding any contract to provide goods,

24  improvements to real or tangible property, or services

25  directly to or for any particular military base or

26  installation in this state. Such facility must be located

27  within a port, as defined in s. 313.21, and have been occupied

28  by a business entity that held a valid Department of Defense

29  contract or occupied by any branch of the Armed Forces of the

30  United States, within 1 year of any contract being executed

31  for the reuse of such facility. A contract for reuse of a

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for SB 1186

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 283902





  1  defense-related facility may not include any contract for

  2  reuse of such facility for any Department of Defense contract

  3  for manufacturing, assembling, fabricating, research,

  4  development, or design.

  5         (q)  "Local financial support exemption option" means

  6  the option to exercise an exemption from the local financial

  7  support requirement available to any applicant whose project

  8  is located in a county designated by the Rural Economic

  9  Development Initiative, if the county commissioners of the

10  county in which the project will be located adopt a resolution

11  requesting that the applicant's project be exempt from the

12  local financial support requirement. Any applicant that

13  exercises this option is not eligible for more than 80 percent

14  of the total tax refunds allowed such applicant under this

15  section.

16         (2)  GRANTING OF A TAX REFUND; ELIGIBLE AMOUNTS.--

17         (a)  There shall be allowed, from the Economic

18  Development Trust Fund, a refund to a qualified applicant for

19  the amount of eligible taxes certified by the director which

20  were paid by such qualified applicant. The total amount of

21  refunds for all fiscal years for each qualified applicant

22  shall be determined pursuant to subsection (3). The annual

23  amount of a refund to a qualified applicant shall be

24  determined pursuant to subsection (5).

25         (b)  A qualified applicant may not be qualified for any

26  project to receive more than $5,000 times the number of jobs

27  provided in the tax refund agreement pursuant to subparagraph

28  (4)(a)1. A qualified applicant may not receive refunds of more

29  than 25 percent of the total tax refunds provided in the tax

30  refund agreement pursuant to subparagraph (4)(a)1. in any

31  fiscal year, provided that no qualified applicant may receive

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for SB 1186

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 283902





  1  more than $2.5 million in tax refunds pursuant to this section

  2  in any fiscal year.

  3         (c)  A qualified applicant may not receive more than

  4  $7.5 million in tax refunds pursuant to this section in all

  5  fiscal years.

  6         (d)  Contingent upon an annual appropriation by the

  7  Legislature, the director may approve not more in tax refunds

  8  than the amount appropriated to the Economic Development Trust

  9  Fund for tax refunds, for a fiscal year pursuant to subsection

10  (5) and s. 288.095.

11         (e)  For the first 6 months of each fiscal year, the

12  director shall set aside 30 percent of the amount appropriated

13  for refunds pursuant to this section by the Legislature to

14  provide tax refunds only to qualified applicants who employ

15  500 or fewer full-time employees in this state. Any

16  unencumbered funds remaining undisbursed from this set-aside

17  at the end of the 6-month period may be used to provide tax

18  refunds for any qualified applicants pursuant to this section.

19         (f)  After entering into a tax refund agreement

20  pursuant to subsection (4), a qualified applicant may receive

21  refunds from the Economic Development Trust Fund for the

22  following taxes due and paid by the qualified applicant

23  beginning with the applicant's first taxable year that begins

24  after entering into the agreement:

25         1.  Taxes on sales, use, and other transactions paid

26  pursuant to chapter 212.

27         2.  Corporate income taxes paid pursuant to chapter

28  220.

29         3.  Intangible personal property taxes paid pursuant to

30  chapter 199.

31         4.  Emergency excise taxes paid pursuant to chapter

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for SB 1186

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 283902





  1  221.

  2         5.  Excise taxes paid on documents pursuant to chapter

  3  201.

  4         6.  Ad valorem taxes paid, as defined in s.

  5  220.03(1)(a) on June 1, 1996.

  6

  7  However, a qualified applicant may not receive a tax refund

  8  pursuant to this section for any amount of credit, refund, or

  9  exemption granted such contractor for any of such taxes. If a

10  refund for such taxes is provided by the office, which taxes

11  are subsequently adjusted by the application of any credit,

12  refund, or exemption granted to the qualified applicant other

13  than that provided in this section, the qualified applicant

14  shall reimburse the Economic Development Trust Fund for the

15  amount of such credit, refund, or exemption. A qualified

16  applicant must notify and tender payment to the office within

17  20 days after receiving a credit, refund, or exemption, other

18  than that provided in this section.

19         (g)  Any qualified applicant who fraudulently claims

20  this refund is liable for repayment of the refund to the

21  Economic Development Trust Fund plus a mandatory penalty of

22  200 percent of the tax refund which shall be deposited into

23  the General Revenue Fund. Any qualified applicant who

24  fraudulently claims this refund commits a felony of the third

25  degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or

26  s. 775.084.

27         (h)  Funds made available pursuant to this section may

28  not be expended in connection with the relocation of a

29  business from one community to another community in this state

30  unless the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development

31  determines that without such relocation the business will move

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for SB 1186

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 283902





  1  outside this state or determines that the business has a

  2  compelling economic rationale for the relocation which creates

  3  additional jobs.

  4         (3)  APPLICATION PROCESS; REQUIREMENTS; AGENCY

  5  DETERMINATION.--

  6         (a)  To apply for certification as a qualified

  7  applicant pursuant to this section, an applicant must file an

  8  application with the office which satisfies the requirements

  9  of paragraphs (b) and (e), paragraphs (c) and (e), or

10  paragraphs (d) and (e). An applicant may not apply for

11  certification pursuant to this section after a proposal has

12  been submitted for a new Department of Defense contract, after

13  the applicant has made the decision to consolidate an existing

14  Department of Defense contract in this state for which such

15  applicant is seeking certification, or after the applicant has

16  made the decision to convert defense production jobs to

17  nondefense production jobs for which such applicant is seeking

18  certification.

19         (b)  Applications for certification based on the

20  consolidation of a Department of Defense contract or a new

21  Department of Defense contract must be submitted to the office

22  as prescribed by the office and must include, but are not

23  limited to, the following information:

24         1.  The applicant's federal employer identification

25  number, the applicant's Florida sales tax registration number,

26  and a notarized signature of an officer of the applicant.

27         2.  The permanent location of the manufacturing,

28  assembling, fabricating, research, development, or design

29  facility in this state at which the project is or is to be

30  located.

31         3.  The Department of Defense contract numbers of the

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for SB 1186

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 283902





  1  contract to be consolidated, the new Department of Defense

  2  contract number, or the "RFP" number of a proposed Department

  3  of Defense contract.

  4         4.  The date the contract was executed or is expected

  5  to be executed, and the date the contract is due to expire or

  6  is expected to expire.

  7         5.  The commencement date for project operations under

  8  the contract in this state.

  9         6.  The number of net new full-time equivalent Florida

10  jobs included in this state which are or will be dedicated to

11  the project as of December 31 of each during the year and the

12  average wage of such jobs.

13         7.  The total number of full-time equivalent employees

14  employed by the applicant in this state.

15         8.  The percentage of the applicant's gross receipts

16  derived from Department of Defense contracts during the 5

17  taxable years immediately preceding the date the application

18  is submitted.

19         9.  The amount of:

20         a.  Taxes on sales, use, and other transactions paid

21  pursuant to chapter 212;

22         b.  Corporate income taxes paid pursuant to chapter

23  220;

24         c.  Intangible personal property taxes paid pursuant to

25  chapter 199;

26         d.  Emergency excise taxes paid pursuant to chapter

27  221;

28         e.  Excise taxes paid on documents pursuant to chapter

29  201; and

30         f.  Ad valorem taxes paid

31

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for SB 1186

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 283902





  1  during the 5 fiscal years immediately preceding the date of

  2  the application, and the projected amounts of such taxes to be

  3  due in the 3 fiscal years immediately following the date of

  4  the application.

  5         10.  The estimated amount of tax refunds to be claimed

  6  for in each fiscal year.

  7         11.  A brief statement concerning the applicant's need

  8  for tax refunds, and the proposed uses of such refunds by the

  9  applicant.

10         12.  A resolution adopted by the county commissioners

11  of the county in which the project will be located, which

12  recommends the applicant be approved as a qualified applicant,

13  and which indicates that the necessary commitments of local

14  financial support for the applicant exist. Prior to the

15  adoption of the resolution, the county commission may review

16  the proposed public or private sources of such support and

17  determine whether the proposed sources of local financial

18  support can be provided or, for any applicant whose project is

19  located in a county designated by the Rural Economic

20  Development Initiative, a resolution adopted by the county

21  commissioners of such county requesting that the applicant's

22  project be exempt from the local financial support

23  requirement.

24         13.  Any additional information requested by the

25  office.

26         (c)  Applications for certification based on the

27  conversion of defense production jobs to nondefense production

28  jobs must be submitted to the office as prescribed by the

29  office and must include, but are not limited to, the following

30  information:

31         1.  The applicant's federal employer identification

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    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 283902





  1  number, the applicant's Florida sales tax registration number,

  2  and a notarized signature of an officer of the applicant.

  3         2.  The permanent location of the manufacturing,

  4  assembling, fabricating, research, development, or design

  5  facility in this state at which the project is or is to be

  6  located.

  7         3.  The Department of Defense contract numbers of the

  8  contract under which the defense production jobs will be

  9  converted to nondefense production jobs.

10         4.  The date the contract was executed, and the date

11  the contract is due to expire or is expected to expire, or was

12  canceled.

13         5.  The commencement date for the nondefense production

14  operations in this state.

15         6.  The number of net new full-time equivalent Florida

16  jobs included in this state which are or will be dedicated to

17  the nondefense production project as of December 31 of each

18  during the year and the average wage of such jobs.

19         7.  The total number of full-time equivalent employees

20  employed by the applicant in this state.

21         8.  The percentage of the applicant's gross receipts

22  derived from Department of Defense contracts during the 5

23  taxable years immediately preceding the date the application

24  is submitted.

25         9.  The amount of:

26         a.  Taxes on sales, use, and other transactions paid

27  pursuant to chapter 212;

28         b.  Corporate income taxes paid pursuant to chapter

29  220;

30         c.  Intangible personal property taxes paid pursuant to

31  chapter 199;

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    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 283902





  1         d.  Emergency excise taxes paid pursuant to chapter

  2  221;

  3         e.  Excise taxes paid on documents pursuant to chapter

  4  201; and

  5         f.  Ad valorem taxes paid

  6

  7  during the 5 fiscal years immediately preceding the date of

  8  the application, and the projected amounts of such taxes to be

  9  due in the 3 fiscal years immediately following the date of

10  the application.

11         10.  The estimated amount of tax refunds to be claimed

12  for in each fiscal year.

13         11.  A brief statement concerning the applicant's need

14  for tax refunds, and the proposed uses of such refunds by the

15  applicant.

16         12.  A resolution adopted by the county commissioners

17  of the county in which the project will be located, which

18  recommends the applicant be approved as a qualified applicant,

19  and which indicates that the necessary commitments of local

20  financial support for the applicant exist. Prior to the

21  adoption of the resolution, the county commission may review

22  the proposed public or private sources of such support and

23  determine whether the proposed sources of local financial

24  support can be provided or, for any applicant whose project is

25  located in a county designated by the Rural Economic

26  Development Initiative, a resolution adopted by the county

27  commissioners of such county requesting that the applicant's

28  project be exempt from the local financial support

29  requirement.

30         13.  Any additional information requested by the

31  office.

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

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    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 283902





  1         (d)  Applications for certification based on a contract

  2  for reuse of a defense-related facility must be submitted to

  3  the office as prescribed by the office and must include, but

  4  are not limited to, the following information:

  5         1.  The applicant's Florida sales tax registration

  6  number and a notarized signature of an officer of the

  7  applicant.

  8         2.  The permanent location of the manufacturing,

  9  assembling, fabricating, research, development, or design

10  facility in this state at which the project is or is to be

11  located.

12         3.  The business entity holding a valid Department of

13  Defense contract or branch of the Armed Forces of the United

14  States that previously occupied the facility, and the date

15  such entity last occupied the facility.

16         4.  A copy of the contract to reuse the facility, or

17  such alternative proof as may be prescribed by the office that

18  the applicant is seeking to contract for the reuse of such

19  facility.

20         5.  The date the contract to reuse the facility was

21  executed or is expected to be executed, and the date the

22  contract is due to expire or is expected to expire.

23         6.  The commencement date for project operations under

24  the contract in this state.

25         7.  The number of net new full-time equivalent Florida

26  jobs included in this state which are or will be dedicated to

27  the project as of December 31 of each during the year and the

28  average wage of such jobs.

29         8.  The total number of full-time equivalent employees

30  employed by the applicant in this state.

31         9.  The amount of:

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for SB 1186

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 283902





  1         a.  Taxes on sales, use, and other transactions paid

  2  pursuant to chapter 212.

  3         b.  Corporate income taxes paid pursuant to chapter

  4  220.

  5         c.  Intangible personal property taxes paid pursuant to

  6  chapter 199.

  7         d.  Emergency excise taxes paid pursuant to chapter

  8  221.

  9         e.  Excise taxes paid on documents pursuant to chapter

10  201.

11         f.  Ad valorem taxes paid during the 5 fiscal years

12  immediately preceding the date of the application, and the

13  projected amounts of such taxes to be due in the 3 fiscal

14  years immediately following the date of the application.

15         10.  The estimated amount of tax refunds to be claimed

16  for in each fiscal year.

17         11.  A brief statement concerning the applicant's need

18  for tax refunds, and the proposed uses of such refunds by the

19  applicant.

20         12.  A resolution adopted by the county commissioners

21  of the county in which the project will be located, which

22  recommends the applicant be approved as a qualified applicant,

23  and which indicates that the necessary commitments of local

24  financial support for the applicant exist. Prior to the

25  adoption of the resolution, the county commission may review

26  the proposed public or private sources of such support and

27  determine whether the proposed sources of local financial

28  support can be provided or, for any applicant whose project is

29  located in a county designated by the Rural Economic

30  Development Initiative, a resolution adopted by the county

31  commissioners of such county requesting that the applicant's

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for SB 1186

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 283902





  1  project be exempt from the local financial support

  2  requirement.

  3         13.  Any additional information requested by the

  4  office.

  5         (e)  To qualify for review by the office, the

  6  application of an applicant must, at a minimum, establish the

  7  following to the satisfaction of the office:

  8         1.  The jobs proposed to be provided under the

  9  application, pursuant to subparagraph (b)6. or subparagraph

10  (c)6., must pay an estimated annual average wage equaling at

11  least 115 percent of the average wage in the area where the

12  project is to be located.

13         2.  The consolidation of a Department of Defense

14  contract must result in a net increase of at least 25 percent

15  in the number of jobs at the applicant's facilities in this

16  state or the addition of at least 80 jobs at the applicant's

17  facilities in this state.

18         3.  The conversion of defense production jobs to

19  nondefense production jobs must result in net increases in

20  nondefense employment at the applicant's facilities in this

21  state.

22         4.  The Department of Defense contract cannot allow the

23  business to include the costs of relocation or retooling in

24  its base as allowable costs under a cost-plus, or similar,

25  contract.

26         5.  A business unit of the applicant must have derived

27  not less than 60 70 percent of its gross receipts in this

28  state from Department of Defense contracts over the

29  applicant's last fiscal year, and must have derived not less

30  than an average of 60 80 percent of its gross receipts in this

31  state from Department of Defense contracts over the 5 years

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for SB 1186

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 283902





  1  preceding the date an application is submitted pursuant to

  2  this section. This subparagraph does not apply to any

  3  application for certification based on a contract for reuse of

  4  a defense-related facility.

  5         6.  The reuse of a defense-related facility must result

  6  in the creation of at least 100 jobs at such facility.

  7         (f)  Each application meeting the requirements of

  8  paragraphs (b) and (e), paragraphs (c) and (e), or paragraphs

  9  (d) and (e) must be submitted to the office for a

10  determination of eligibility. The office shall review,

11  evaluate, and score each application based on, but not limited

12  to, the following criteria:

13         1.  Expected contributions to the state strategic

14  economic development plan adopted by Enterprise Florida, Inc.,

15  taking into account the extent to which the project

16  contributes to the state's high-technology base, and the

17  long-term impact of the project and the applicant on the

18  state's economy.

19         2.  The economic benefit of the jobs created or

20  retained by the project in this state, taking into account the

21  cost and average wage of each job created or retained, and the

22  potential risk to existing jobs.

23         3.  The amount of capital investment to be made by the

24  applicant in this state.

25         4.  The local commitment and support for the project

26  and applicant.

27         5.  The impact of the project on the local community,

28  taking into account the unemployment rate for the county where

29  the project will be located.

30         6.  The dependence of the local community on the

31  defense industry.

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for SB 1186

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 283902





  1         7.  The impact of any tax refunds granted pursuant to

  2  this section on the viability of the project and the

  3  probability that the project will occur in this state if such

  4  tax refunds are granted to the applicant, taking into account

  5  the expected long-term commitment of the applicant to economic

  6  growth and employment in this state.

  7         8.  The length of the project, or the expected

  8  long-term commitment to this state resulting from the project.

  9         (g)  The office shall forward its written findings and

10  evaluation on each application meeting the requirements of

11  paragraphs (b) and (e), paragraphs (c) and (e), or paragraphs

12  (d) and (e) to the director within 60 calendar days after of

13  receipt of a complete application. The office shall notify

14  each applicant when its application is complete, and when the

15  60-day period begins. In its written report to the director,

16  the office shall specifically address each of the factors

17  specified in paragraph (f), and shall make a specific

18  assessment with respect to the minimum requirements

19  established in paragraph (e). The office shall include in its

20  report projections of the tax refunds the applicant would be

21  eligible to receive refund claims that will be sought by the

22  applicant in each fiscal year based on the creation and

23  maintenance of the net new Florida jobs specified in

24  subparagraphs (b)6., (c)6., or (d)7. as of December 31 of the

25  preceding state fiscal year information submitted in the

26  application.

27         (h)  Within 30 days after receipt of the office's

28  findings and evaluation, the director shall issue a letter of

29  certification which enter a final order that either approves

30  or disapproves an application. The decision must be in writing

31  and provide the justifications for either approval or

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for SB 1186

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 283902





  1  disapproval. If appropriate, the director shall enter into a

  2  written agreement with the qualified applicant pursuant to

  3  subsection (4).

  4         (i)  The director may not certify enter any final order

  5  that certifies any applicant as a qualified applicant when the

  6  value of tax refunds to be included in that letter of

  7  certification final order exceeds the available amount of

  8  authority to certify new businesses enter final orders as

  9  determined in s. 288.095(3). A letter of certification final

10  order that approves an application must specify the maximum

11  amount of a tax refund that is to be available to the

12  contractor for in each fiscal year and the total amount of tax

13  refunds for all fiscal years.

14         (j)  This section does not create a presumption that an

15  applicant should receive any tax refunds under this section.

16         (4)  QUALIFIED DEFENSE CONTRACTOR TAX REFUND

17  AGREEMENT.--

18         (a)  A qualified applicant shall enter into a written

19  agreement with the office containing, but not limited to, the

20  following:

21         1.  The total number of full-time equivalent jobs in

22  this state that are or will be dedicated to the qualified

23  applicant's project, the average wage of such jobs, the

24  definitions that will apply for measuring the achievement of

25  these terms during the pendency of the agreement, and a time

26  schedule or plan for when such jobs will be in place and

27  active in this state. This information must be the same as the

28  information contained in the application submitted by the

29  contractor pursuant to subsection (3).

30         2.  The maximum amount of a refund that the qualified

31  applicant is eligible to receive for in each fiscal year,

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for SB 1186

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 283902





  1  based on the job creation or retention and maintenance

  2  schedule specified in subparagraph 1.

  3         3.  An agreement with the office allowing the office to

  4  review and verify the financial and personnel records of the

  5  qualified applicant to ascertain whether the qualified

  6  applicant is complying with the requirements of this section.

  7         4.  The date by after which, in each fiscal year, the

  8  qualified applicant may file a an annual claim pursuant to

  9  subsection (5) to be considered to receive a tax refund in the

10  following fiscal year.

11         5.  That local financial support shall be annually

12  available and will be paid to the Economic Development Trust

13  Fund.

14         (b)  Compliance with the terms and conditions of the

15  agreement is a condition precedent for receipt of tax refunds

16  each year. The failure to comply with the terms and conditions

17  of the agreement shall result in the loss of eligibility for

18  receipt of all tax refunds previously authorized pursuant to

19  this section, and the revocation of the certification as a

20  qualified applicant by the director, unless the qualified

21  applicant is eligible to receive and elects to accept a

22  prorated refund under paragraph (5)(g) or the office grants

23  the qualified applicant an economic-stimulus exemption.

24         1.  A qualified applicant may submit, in writing, a

25  request to the office for an economic-stimulus exemption. The

26  request must provide quantitative evidence demonstrating how

27  negative economic conditions in the qualified applicant's

28  industry have prevented the qualified applicant from complying

29  with the terms and conditions of its tax refund agreement.

30         2.  Upon receipt of a request under subparagraph 1.,

31  the director shall have 45 days to notify the requesting

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for SB 1186

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 283902





  1  qualified applicant, in writing, if its exemption has been

  2  granted or denied. In determining if an exemption should be

  3  granted, the director shall consider the extent to which

  4  negative economic conditions in the requesting qualified

  5  applicant's industry have prevented the qualified applicant

  6  from complying with the terms and conditions of its tax refund

  7  agreement.

  8         3.  As a condition for receiving a prorated refund

  9  under paragraph (5)(g) or an economic-stimulus exemption under

10  this paragraph, a qualified applicant must agree to

11  renegotiate its tax refund agreement with the office to, at a

12  minimum, ensure that the terms of the agreement comply with

13  current law and office procedures governing application for

14  and award of tax refunds. Upon approving the award of a

15  prorated refund or granting an economic-stimulus exemption,

16  the office shall renegotiate the tax refund agreement with the

17  qualified applicant as required by this subparagraph. When

18  amending the agreement of a qualified applicant receiving an

19  economic-stimulus exemption, the office may extend the

20  duration of the agreement for a period not to exceed 1 year.

21         4.  A qualified applicant may submit a request for an

22  economic-stimulus exemption to the office in lieu of any tax

23  refund claim scheduled to be submitted after June 30, 2001,

24  but before July 1, 2003.

25         5.  A qualified applicant that receives an

26  economic-stimulus exemption may not receive a tax refund for

27  the period covered by the exemption.

28         (c)  The agreement shall be signed by the director and

29  the authorized officer of the qualified applicant.

30         (d)  The agreement must contain the following legend,

31  clearly printed on its face in bold type of not less than 10

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for SB 1186

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 283902





  1  points:

  2

  3         "This agreement is neither a general obligation

  4         of the State of Florida, nor is it backed by

  5         the full faith and credit of the State of

  6         Florida. Payment of tax refunds are conditioned

  7         on and subject to specific annual

  8         appropriations by the Florida Legislature of

  9         funds sufficient to pay amounts authorized in

10         s. 288.1045, Florida Statutes."

11

12         (5)  ANNUAL CLAIM FOR REFUND FROM A QUALIFIED DEFENSE

13  CONTRACTOR.--

14         (a)  To be eligible to claim any scheduled tax refund,

15  qualified applicants who have entered into a written agreement

16  with the office pursuant to subsection (4) and who have

17  entered into a valid new Department of Defense contract,

18  commenced the consolidation of a Department of Defense

19  contract, commenced the conversion of defense production jobs

20  to nondefense production jobs, or who have entered into a

21  valid contract for reuse of a defense-related facility must

22  may apply by January 31 of once each fiscal year to the office

23  for tax refunds scheduled to be paid from the appropriation

24  for the fiscal year that begins on July 1 following the

25  January 31 claims-submission date. The office may, upon

26  written request, grant a 30-day extension of the filing date.

27  The application must be made on or after the date contained in

28  the agreement entered into pursuant to subsection (4) and must

29  include a notarized signature of an officer of the applicant.

30         (b)  The claim for refund by the qualified applicant

31  must include a copy of all receipts pertaining to the payment

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for SB 1186

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 283902





  1  of taxes for which a refund is sought, and data related to

  2  achieving each performance item contained in the tax refund

  3  agreement pursuant to subsection (4). The amount requested as

  4  a tax refund may not exceed the amount for the relevant fiscal

  5  year in the written agreement entered pursuant to subsection

  6  (4).

  7         (c)  A tax refund may not be approved for any qualified

  8  applicant unless local financial support has been paid to the

  9  Economic Development Trust Fund for in that refund fiscal

10  year. If the local financial support is less than 20 percent

11  of the approved tax refund, the tax refund shall be reduced.

12  The tax refund paid may not exceed 5 times the local financial

13  support received. Funding from local sources includes tax

14  abatement under s. 196.1995 provided to a qualified applicant.

15  The amount of any tax refund for an applicant approved under

16  this section shall be reduced by the amount of any such tax

17  abatement, and the limitations in subsection (2) and paragraph

18  (3)(h) shall be reduced by the amount of any such tax

19  abatement. A report listing all sources of the local financial

20  support shall be provided to the office when such support is

21  paid to the Economic Development Trust Fund.

22         (d)  The director, with assistance from the office, the

23  Department of Revenue, and the Agency for Workforce Innovation

24  Department of Labor and Employment Security, shall, by June 30

25  following the scheduled date for submitting the tax-refund

26  claim, specify by written order the approval or disapproval of

27  the tax refund claim and, if approved, determine the amount of

28  the tax refund that is authorized to be paid to for the

29  qualified applicant for the fiscal year in a written final

30  order within 30 days after the date the claim for the annual

31  tax refund is received by the office. The office may grant an

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for SB 1186

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 283902





  1  extension of this date upon the request of the qualified

  2  applicant for the purpose of filing additional information in

  3  support of the claim.

  4         (e)  The total amount of tax refunds approved by the

  5  director under this section in any fiscal year may not exceed

  6  the amount appropriated to the Economic Development Trust Fund

  7  for such purposes for the fiscal year. If the Legislature does

  8  not appropriate an amount sufficient to satisfy projections by

  9  the office for tax refunds in a fiscal year, the director

10  shall, not later than July 15 of such year, determine the

11  proportion of each refund claim which shall be paid by

12  dividing the amount appropriated for tax refunds for the

13  fiscal year by the projected total amount of refund claims for

14  the fiscal year. The amount of each claim for a tax refund

15  shall be multiplied by the resulting quotient. If, after the

16  payment of all such refund claims, funds remain in the

17  Economic Development Trust Fund for tax refunds, the director

18  shall recalculate the proportion for each refund claim and

19  adjust the amount of each claim accordingly.

20         (f)  Upon approval of the tax refund pursuant to

21  paragraphs (c) and (d), the Comptroller shall issue a warrant

22  for the amount included in the written final order. In the

23  event of any appeal of the written final order, the

24  Comptroller may not issue a warrant for a refund to the

25  qualified applicant until the conclusion of all appeals of the

26  written final order.

27         (g)  A prorated tax refund, less a 5 percent penalty,

28  shall be approved for a qualified applicant provided all other

29  applicable requirements have been satisfied and the applicant

30  proves to the satisfaction of the director that it has

31  achieved at least 80 percent of its projected employment and

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for SB 1186

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 283902





  1  that the average wage paid by the qualified applicant is at

  2  least 90 percent of the average wage specified in the tax

  3  refund agreement, but in no case less than 115 percent of the

  4  average private-sector wage in the area available at the time

  5  of certification. The prorated tax refund shall be calculated

  6  by multiplying the tax refund amount for which the qualified

  7  applicant would have been eligible, if all applicable

  8  requirements had been satisfied, by the percentage of the

  9  average employment specified in the tax refund agreement which

10  was achieved, and by the percentage of the average wages

11  specified in the tax refund agreement which was achieved.

12         (h)  This section does not create a presumption that a

13  tax refund claim will be approved and paid.

14         (6)  ADMINISTRATION.--

15         (a)  The office may adopt rules pursuant to chapter 120

16  for the administration of this section.

17         (b)  The office may verify information provided in any

18  claim submitted for tax credits under this section with regard

19  to employment and wage levels or the payment of the taxes with

20  the appropriate agency or authority including the Department

21  of Revenue, the Agency for Workforce Innovation Department of

22  Labor and Employment Security, or any local government or

23  authority.

24         (c)  To facilitate the process of monitoring and

25  auditing applications made under this program, the office may

26  provide a list of qualified applicants to the Department of

27  Revenue, to the Agency for Workforce Innovation Department of

28  Labor and Employment Security, or to any local government or

29  authority. The office may request the assistance of said

30  entities with respect to monitoring jobs, wages, and the

31  payment of the taxes listed in subsection (2).

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for SB 1186

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 283902





  1         (d)  By December 1 of each year, the office shall

  2  submit a complete and detailed report to the Governor, the

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

  4  Representatives of all tax refunds paid under this section,

  5  including analyses of benefits and costs, types of projects

  6  supported, employment and investment created, geographic

  7  distribution of tax refunds granted, and minority business

  8  participation.  The report must indicate whether the moneys

  9  appropriated by the Legislature to the qualified applicant tax

10  refund program were expended in a prudent, fiducially sound

11  manner.

12         (e)  Funds specifically appropriated for the tax refund

13  program under this section may not be used for any purpose

14  other than the payment of tax refunds authorized by this

15  section.

16         (7)  EXPIRATION.--An applicant may not be certified as

17  qualified under this section after June 30, 2004.

18         Section 4.  Paragraphs (a) and (d) of subsection (3),

19  paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of subsection (4), and

20  subsections (5) and (6) of section 288.106, Florida Statutes,

21  are amended, and subsection (7) of that section is reenacted,

22  to read:

23         288.106  Tax refund program for qualified target

24  industry businesses.--

25         (3)  APPLICATION AND APPROVAL PROCESS.--

26         (a)  To apply for certification as a qualified target

27  industry business under this section, the business must file

28  an application with the office before the business has made

29  the decision to locate a new business in this state or before

30  the business had made the decision to expand an existing

31  business in this state. The application shall include, but is

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for SB 1186

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 283902





  1  not limited to, the following information:

  2         1.  The applicant's federal employer identification

  3  number and the applicant's state sales tax registration

  4  number.

  5         2.  The permanent location of the applicant's facility

  6  in this state at which the project is or is to be located.

  7         3.  A description of the type of business activity or

  8  product covered by the project, including four-digit SIC codes

  9  for all activities included in the project.

10         4.  The number of net new full-time equivalent Florida

11  jobs at the qualified target industry business as of December

12  31 of each year included in this state that are or will be

13  dedicated to the project and the average wage of those jobs.

14  If more than one type of business activity or product is

15  included in the project, the number of jobs and average wage

16  for those jobs must be separately stated for each type of

17  business activity or product.

18         5.  The total number of full-time equivalent employees

19  employed by the applicant in this state.

20         6.  The anticipated commencement date of the project.

21         7.  A brief statement concerning the role that the tax

22  refunds requested will play in the decision of the applicant

23  to locate or expand in this state.

24         8.  An estimate of the proportion of the sales

25  resulting from the project that will be made outside this

26  state.

27         9.  A resolution adopted by the governing board of the

28  county or municipality in which the project will be located,

29  which resolution recommends that certain types of businesses

30  be approved as a qualified target industry business and states

31  that the commitments of local financial support necessary for

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for SB 1186

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 283902





  1  the target industry business exist. In advance of the passage

  2  of such resolution, the office may also accept an official

  3  letter from an authorized local economic development agency

  4  that endorses the proposed target industry project and pledges

  5  that sources of local financial support for such project

  6  exist. For the purposes of making pledges of local financial

  7  support under this subsection, the authorized local economic

  8  development agency shall be officially designated by the

  9  passage of a one-time resolution by the local governing

10  authority.

11         10.  Any additional information requested by the

12  office.

13         (d)  The office shall forward its written findings and

14  evaluation concerning each application meeting the

15  requirements of paragraph (b) to the director within 45

16  calendar days after receipt of a complete application. The

17  office shall notify each target industry business when its

18  application is complete, and of the time when the 45-day

19  period begins. In its written report to the director, the

20  office shall specifically address each of the factors

21  specified in paragraph (c) and shall make a specific

22  assessment with respect to the minimum requirements

23  established in paragraph (b). The office shall include in its

24  report projections of the tax refunds the business would be

25  eligible to receive refund claim that will be sought by the

26  target industry business in each fiscal year based on the

27  creation and maintenance of the net new Florida jobs specified

28  in subparagraph (a)4. as of December 31 of the preceding state

29  fiscal year information submitted in the application.

30         (4)  TAX REFUND AGREEMENT.--

31         (a)  Each qualified target industry business must enter

                                  30
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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for SB 1186

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 283902





  1  into a written agreement with the office which specifies, at a

  2  minimum:

  3         1.  The total number of full-time equivalent jobs in

  4  this state that will be dedicated to the project, the average

  5  wage of those jobs, the definitions that will apply for

  6  measuring the achievement of these terms during the pendency

  7  of the agreement, and a time schedule or plan for when such

  8  jobs will be in place and active in this state. This

  9  information must be the same as the information contained in

10  the application submitted by the business under subsection

11  (3).

12         2.  The maximum amount of tax refunds which the

13  qualified target industry business is eligible to receive on

14  the project and the maximum amount of a tax refund that the

15  qualified target industry business is eligible to receive for

16  in each fiscal year, based on the job creation and maintenance

17  schedule specified in subparagraph 1.

18         3.  That the office may review and verify the financial

19  and personnel records of the qualified target industry

20  business to ascertain whether that business is in compliance

21  with this section.

22         4.  The date by after which, in each fiscal year, the

23  qualified target industry business may file a an annual claim

24  under subsection (5) to be considered to receive a tax refund

25  in the following fiscal year.

26         5.  That local financial support will be annually

27  available and will be paid to the account. The director may

28  not enter into a written agreement with a qualified target

29  industry business if the local financial support resolution is

30  not passed by the local governing authority within 90 days

31  after he or she has issued the letter of certification under

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for SB 1186

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 283902





  1  subsection (3).

  2         (b)  Compliance with the terms and conditions of the

  3  agreement is a condition precedent for the receipt of a tax

  4  refund each year. The failure to comply with the terms and

  5  conditions of the tax refund agreement results in the loss of

  6  eligibility for receipt of all tax refunds previously

  7  authorized under this section and the revocation by the

  8  director of the certification of the business entity as a

  9  qualified target industry business, unless the business is

10  eligible to receive and elects to accept a prorated refund

11  under paragraph (5)(d) or the office grants the business an

12  economic-stimulus exemption.

13         1.  A qualified target industry business may submit, in

14  writing, a request to the office for an economic-stimulus

15  exemption. The request must provide quantitative evidence

16  demonstrating how negative economic conditions in the

17  business's industry have prevented the business from complying

18  with the terms and conditions of its tax refund agreement.

19         2.  Upon receipt of a request under subparagraph 1.,

20  the director shall have 45 days to notify the requesting

21  business, in writing, if its exemption has been granted or

22  denied. In determining if an exemption should be granted, the

23  director shall consider the extent to which negative economic

24  conditions in the requesting business's industry have

25  prevented the business from complying with the terms and

26  conditions of its tax refund agreement.

27         3.  As a condition for receiving a prorated refund

28  under paragraph (5)(d) or an economic-stimulus exemption under

29  this paragraph, a qualified target industry business must

30  agree to renegotiate its tax refund agreement with the office

31  to, at a minimum, ensure that the terms of the agreement

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

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    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 283902





  1  comply with current law and office procedures governing

  2  application for and award of tax refunds. Upon approving the

  3  award of a prorated refund or granting an economic-stimulus

  4  exemption, the office shall renegotiate the tax refund

  5  agreement with the business as required by this subparagraph.

  6  When amending the agreement of a business receiving an

  7  economic-stimulus exemption, the office may extend the

  8  duration of the agreement for a period not to exceed 1 year.

  9         4.  A qualified target industry business may submit a

10  request for an economic-stimulus exemption to the office in

11  lieu of any tax refund claim scheduled to be submitted after

12  June 30, 2001, but before July 1, 2003.

13         5.  A qualified target industry business that receives

14  an economic-stimulus exemption may not receive a tax refund

15  for the period covered by the exemption.

16         (c)  The agreement must be signed by the director and

17  by an authorized officer of the qualified target industry

18  business within 120 days after the issuance of the letter of

19  certification under subsection (3), but not before passage and

20  receipt of the resolution of local financial support. The

21  office may grant an extension of this period at the written

22  request of the qualified target industry business.

23         (5)  ANNUAL CLAIM FOR REFUND.--

24         (a)  To be eligible to claim any scheduled tax refund,

25  a qualified target industry business that has entered into a

26  tax refund agreement with the office under subsection (4) must

27  may apply by January 31 of once each fiscal year to the office

28  for the a tax refund scheduled to be paid from the

29  appropriation for the fiscal year that begins on July 1

30  following the January 31 claims-submission date. The office

31  may, upon written request, grant a 30-day extension of the

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for SB 1186

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 283902





  1  filing date. The application must be made on or after the date

  2  specified in that agreement.

  3         (b)  The claim for refund by the qualified target

  4  industry business must include a copy of all receipts

  5  pertaining to the payment of taxes for which the refund is

  6  sought and data related to achievement of each performance

  7  item specified in the tax refund agreement. The amount

  8  requested as a tax refund may not exceed the amount specified

  9  for the relevant that fiscal year in that agreement.

10         (c)  A tax refund may not be approved for a qualified

11  target industry business unless the required local financial

12  support has been paid into the account for that refund in that

13  fiscal year. If the local financial support provided is less

14  than 20 percent of the approved tax refund, the tax refund

15  must be reduced. In no event may the tax refund exceed an

16  amount that is equal to 5 times the amount of the local

17  financial support received. Further, funding from local

18  sources includes any tax abatement granted to that business

19  under s. 196.1995 or the appraised market value of municipal

20  or county land conveyed or provided at a discount to that

21  business. The amount of any tax refund for such business

22  approved under this section must be reduced by the amount of

23  any such tax abatement granted or the value of the land

24  granted; and the limitations in subsection (2) and paragraph

25  (3)(f) must be reduced by the amount of any such tax abatement

26  or the value of the land granted. A report listing all sources

27  of the local financial support shall be provided to the office

28  when such support is paid to the account.

29         (d)  A prorated tax refund, less a 5-percent penalty,

30  shall be approved for a qualified target industry business

31  provided all other applicable requirements have been satisfied

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for SB 1186

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 283902





  1  and the business proves to the satisfaction of the director

  2  that it has achieved at least 80 percent of its projected

  3  employment and that the average wage paid by the business is

  4  at least 90 percent of the average wage specified in the tax

  5  refund agreement, but in no case less than 115 percent of the

  6  average private-sector wage in the area available at the time

  7  of certification, or 150 percent or 200 percent of the average

  8  private-sector wage if the business requested the additional

  9  per-job tax refund authorized in paragraph (2)(b) for wages

10  above those levels. The prorated tax refund shall be

11  calculated by multiplying the tax refund amount for which the

12  qualified target industry business would have been eligible,

13  if all applicable requirements had been satisfied, by the

14  percentage of the average employment specified in the tax

15  refund agreement which was achieved, and by the percentage of

16  the average wages specified in the tax refund agreement which

17  was achieved.

18         (e)  The director, with such assistance as may be

19  required from the office, the Department of Revenue, or the

20  Agency for Workforce Innovation Department of Labor and

21  Employment Security, shall, by June 30 following the scheduled

22  date for submission of the tax-refund claim, specify by

23  written final order the approval or disapproval of the tax

24  refund claim and, if approved, the amount of the tax refund

25  that is authorized to be paid to for the qualified target

26  industry business for the fiscal year within 30 days after the

27  date that the claim for the annual tax refund is received by

28  the office. The office may grant an extension of this date on

29  the request of the qualified target industry business for the

30  purpose of filing additional information in support of the

31  claim.

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

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    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 283902





  1         (f)  The total amount of tax refund claims approved by

  2  the director under this section in any fiscal year must not

  3  exceed the amount authorized under s. 288.095(3).

  4         (g)  This section does not create a presumption that a

  5  tax refund claim will be approved and paid.

  6         (h)(g)  Upon approval of the tax refund under

  7  paragraphs (c), (d), and (e), the Comptroller shall issue a

  8  warrant for the amount specified in the written final order.

  9  If the written final order is appealed, the Comptroller may

10  not issue a warrant for a refund to the qualified target

11  industry business until the conclusion of all appeals of that

12  order.

13         (6)  ADMINISTRATION.--

14         (a)  The office is authorized to verify information

15  provided in any claim submitted for tax credits under this

16  section with regard to employment and wage levels or the

17  payment of the taxes to the appropriate agency or authority,

18  including the Department of Revenue, the Agency for Workforce

19  Innovation Department of Labor and Employment Security, or any

20  local government or authority.

21         (b)  To facilitate the process of monitoring and

22  auditing applications made under this program, the office may

23  provide a list of qualified target industry businesses to the

24  Department of Revenue, to the Agency for Workforce Innovation

25  Department of Labor and Employment Security, or to any local

26  government or authority. The office may request the assistance

27  of those entities with respect to monitoring jobs, wages, and

28  the payment of the taxes listed in subsection (2).

29         (c)  Funds specifically appropriated for the tax refund

30  program for qualified target industry businesses may not be

31  used for any purpose other than the payment of tax refunds

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for SB 1186

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 283902





  1  authorized by this section.

  2         (7)  EXPIRATION.--This section expires June 30, 2004.

  3         Section 5.  Paragraph (k) of subsection (7) of section

  4  213.053, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

  5         213.053  Confidentiality and information sharing.--

  6         (7)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this

  7  section, the department may provide:

  8         (k)1.  Payment information relative to chapters 199,

  9  201, 212, 220, and 221, and 624 to the Office of Tourism,

10  Trade, and Economic Development, or its employees or agents

11  that are identified in writing by the office to the

12  department, in the its administration of the tax refund

13  program for qualified defense contractors authorized by s.

14  288.1045 and the tax refund program for qualified target

15  industry businesses authorized by s. 288.106.

16         2.  Information relative to tax credits taken by a

17  business under s. 220.191 and exemptions or tax refunds

18  received by a business under s. 212.08(5)(j) to the Office of

19  Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development, or its employees or

20  agents that are identified in writing by the office to the

21  department, in the administration and evaluation of the

22  capital investment tax credit program authorized in s. 220.191

23  and the semiconductor, defense, and space tax exemption

24  program authorized in s. 212.08(5)(j).

25

26  Disclosure of information under this subsection shall be

27  pursuant to a written agreement between the executive director

28  and the agency.  Such agencies, governmental or

29  nongovernmental, shall be bound by the same requirements of

30  confidentiality as the Department of Revenue.  Breach of

31  confidentiality is a misdemeanor of the first degree,

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for SB 1186

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 283902





  1  punishable as provided by s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

  2         Section 6.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a

  3  law.

  4

  5

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

  7  And the title is amended as follows:

  8         Delete everything before the enacting clause

  9

10  and insert:

11                      A bill to be entitled

12         An act relating to economic development;

13         amending s. 288.0655, F.S.; providing for

14         additional uses of moneys in the Rural

15         Infrastructure Fund; amending s. 288.095, F.S.;

16         revising terminology relating to certain

17         incentive payment schedules; revising the due

18         date and content for an annual report on

19         incentives and reassigning responsibility for

20         such report to Enterprise Florida, Inc.;

21         amending s. 288.1045, F.S.; revising

22         definitions; revising conditions and procedures

23         governing applications for tax refunds;

24         revising provisions relating to the order

25         authorizing a tax refund; revising the required

26         elements of a tax refund agreement; providing

27         an exemption from mandatory loss of tax refund

28         eligibility and decertification resulting from

29         agreement breach in cases of uncontrollable

30         economic factors; prescribing a deadline for

31         applying for tax refunds; authorizing the

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for SB 1186

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 283902





  1         office to grant extensions to certain

  2         application and notification deadlines;

  3         revising conditions under which a prorated tax

  4         refund will be approved; providing for

  5         calculation of such prorated refund; specifying

  6         that the section does not create a presumption

  7         a claim will be approved and paid; revising the

  8         agencies with which the office may verify

  9         information and to which the office may provide

10         information; expanding purposes for which the

11         office may seek assistance from certain

12         entities; specifying that certain

13         appropriations may not be used for any purpose

14         other than the payment of specified tax

15         refunds; amending s. 288.106, F.S., relating to

16         the tax refund program for qualified target

17         industry businesses; revising requirements for

18         application for certification as such business

19         with respect to the number of current and new

20         jobs at the business and projections by the

21         Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic

22         Development of refunds based thereon; revising

23         requirements relating to the tax refund

24         agreement with respect to job creation and the

25         time for filing of claims for refund; providing

26         for an exemption from mandatory loss of tax

27         refund eligibility and decertification

28         resulting from agreement breach in cases of

29         uncontrollable economic factors; revising

30         provisions relating to annual claims for

31         refund; authorizing an extension of time for

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for SB 1186

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 283902





  1         signing the tax refund agreement; providing an

  2         application deadline; revising provisions

  3         relating to the order authorizing a tax refund;

  4         revising conditions under which a prorated tax

  5         refund will be approved; providing for

  6         calculation of such prorated tax refund;

  7         specifying that the section does not create a

  8         presumption that a claim will be approved and

  9         paid; revising the agencies with which the

10         office may verify information and to which the

11         office may provide information; expanding

12         purposes for which the office may seek

13         assistance from certain entities; specifying

14         that certain appropriations may not be used for

15         any purpose other than the payment of specified

16         tax refunds; amending s. 213.053, F.S.;

17         authorizing the Department of Revenue to

18         provide certain information concerning

19         specified tax-refund programs with the Office

20         of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development and

21         specified agents; providing an effective date.

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

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