CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT
    Bill No. CS for SB 1186
    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 283902
                            CHAMBER ACTION
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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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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT
    Bill No. CS for SB 1186
    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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    Bill No. CS for SB 1186
    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
    Bill No. CS for SB 1186
    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:
                                  16
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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
                                  17
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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
                                  18
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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.
                                  19
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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
                                  20
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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,
                                  21
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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
                                  22
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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
                                  23
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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
                                  24
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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
                                  25
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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
                                  26
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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).
                                  27
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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
                                  28
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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
                                  29
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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
                                  31
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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
    Bill No. CS for SB 1186
    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
    Bill No. CS for SB 1186
    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
                                  38
    4:48 PM   03/18/02                               s1186.cm07.aa
                                                  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
                                  39
    4:48 PM   03/18/02                               s1186.cm07.aa
                                                  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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