Senate Bill sb1186e1

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  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to economic development;

  3         amending s. 212.055, F.S.; providing for the

  4         levy of the infrastructure sales surtax and the

  5         school capital outlay surtax by a two-thirds

  6         vote and requiring certain educational facility

  7         planning prior to the levy of the school

  8         capital outlay surtax; providing for the uses

  9         of the surtax proceeds; amending s. 288.0655,

10         F.S.; providing for additional uses of moneys

11         in the Rural Infrastructure Fund; amending s.

12         288.095, F.S.; revising terminology relating to

13         certain incentive payment schedules; revising

14         the due date and content for an annual report

15         on incentives and reassigning responsibility

16         for such report to Enterprise Florida, Inc.;

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

18         definitions; revising conditions and procedures

19         governing applications for tax refunds;

20         revising provisions relating to the order

21         authorizing a tax refund; revising the required

22         elements of a tax refund agreement; providing

23         an exemption from mandatory loss of tax refund

24         eligibility and decertification resulting from

25         agreement breach in cases of uncontrollable

26         economic factors; prescribing a deadline for

27         applying for tax refunds; authorizing the

28         office to grant extensions to certain

29         application and notification deadlines;

30         revising conditions under which a prorated tax

31         refund will be approved; providing for


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    CS for SB 1186                                 First Engrossed



  1         calculation of such prorated refund; specifying

  2         that the section does not create a presumption

  3         a claim will be approved and paid; revising the

  4         agencies with which the office may verify

  5         information and to which the office may provide

  6         information; expanding purposes for which the

  7         office may seek assistance from certain

  8         entities; specifying that certain

  9         appropriations may not be used for any purpose

10         other than the payment of specified tax

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

12         the tax refund program for qualified target

13         industry businesses; revising requirements for

14         application for certification as such business

15         with respect to the number of current and new

16         jobs at the business and projections by the

17         Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic

18         Development of refunds based thereon; revising

19         requirements relating to the tax refund

20         agreement with respect to job creation and the

21         time for filing of claims for refund; providing

22         for an exemption from mandatory loss of tax

23         refund eligibility and decertification

24         resulting from agreement breach in cases of

25         uncontrollable economic factors; revising

26         provisions relating to annual claims for

27         refund; authorizing an extension of time for

28         signing the tax refund agreement; providing an

29         application deadline; revising provisions

30         relating to the order authorizing a tax refund;

31         revising conditions under which a prorated tax


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  1         refund will be approved; providing for

  2         calculation of such prorated tax refund;

  3         specifying that the section does not create a

  4         presumption that a claim will be approved and

  5         paid; revising the agencies with which the

  6         office may verify information and to which the

  7         office may provide information; expanding

  8         purposes for which the office may seek

  9         assistance from certain entities; specifying

10         that certain appropriations may not be used for

11         any purpose other than the payment of specified

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

13         authorizing the Department of Revenue to

14         provide certain information concerning

15         specified tax-refund programs with the Office

16         of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development and

17         specified agents; providing a short title;

18         amending s. 125.0104, F.S.; providing that the

19         additional tax authorized for bonds for a

20         professional sports franchise facility, a

21         retained spring training franchise facility, or

22         a convention center, and for operation and

23         maintenance costs of a convention center, and

24         the additional tax authorized for bonds for

25         facilities for a new professional sports

26         franchise or a retained spring training

27         franchise, may also be used to promote and

28         advertise tourism; providing for earlier effect

29         and retroactive application of s. 197.1722,

30         F.S., relating to a limited waiver of certain

31         mandatory charges and interest on certain real


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  1         property taxes; authorizing certain counties to

  2         apply for amendment of enterprise zone boundary

  3         lines; providing deadlines; prescribing

  4         conditions applicable to the areas proposed for

  5         addition to the enterprise zones; directing the

  6         Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic

  7         Development to approve such amendments under

  8         certain conditions; providing for application

  9         of this act; creating s. 290.00686, F.S.;

10         authorizing the Office of Tourism, Trade, and

11         Economic Development to designate an enterprise

12         zone in Brevard County; providing requirements

13         with respect thereto; authorizing the City of

14         Pensacola to apply to the Office of Tourism,

15         Trade, and Economic Development to designate an

16         enterprise zone in the City of Pensacola;

17         authorizing the office to designate one

18         enterprise zone in the City of Pensacola;

19         providing requirements with respect thereto;

20         authorizing Leon County, or Leon County and the

21         City of Tallahassee jointly, to apply to the

22         Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic

23         Development to designate an enterprise zone in

24         Leon County; authorizing the office to

25         designate one enterprise zone notwithstanding

26         certain limitations; providing requirements

27         with respect thereto; creating s. 11.35, F.S.;

28         creating the Joint Legislative Committee on Tax

29         Exemptions; providing for its membership and

30         prescribing its duties; requiring it to

31         periodically review and make recommendations


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  1         concerning tax exemptions prescribed in ch.

  2         212, F.S.; creating s. 212.25, F.S.; providing

  3         for the periodic expiration and review of tax

  4         exemptions under ch. 212, F.S.; providing that

  5         sales of goods or services that are neither

  6         expressly taxable nor expressly exempt from

  7         taxation by a specified date become taxable;

  8         exempting specified transactions from taxation

  9         and from the the expiration and review

10         requirements of the act; providing effective

11         dates.

12

13         WHEREAS, the Legislature has identified a crisis in the

14  economy which compels the Legislature to take a broad and

15  comprehensive approach to economic development, addressing its

16  many facets, including both economic stimulus and the state's

17  tax policy, and

18         WHEREAS, the Legislature recognizes the obvious natural

19  and logical connection between economic development and the

20  distribution of the tax burden among the diverse segments of

21  the economy, and

22         WHEREAS, the Legislature seeks by this legislation to

23  accomplish goals that are not separate or disassociated

24  objects of legislative effort, but that are integrated and

25  dependent elements of a comprehensive approach to a rational

26  economic policy that will fairly and equitably promote

27  economic development throughout the diverse segments of the

28  economy, and

29         WHEREAS, the Legislature, as part of this comprehensive

30  approach to a rational economic policy, seeks to create a

31  process by which the Legislature will periodically review, on


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  1  an orderly schedule, the array of tax exemptions and identify

  2  those that serve as a widespread stimulus to the economy and

  3  those that hamper economic development by unfairly

  4  distributing the tax burden or giving an undue competitive

  5  advantage to a business over others similarly situated, NOW,

  6  THEREFORE,

  7

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

  9

10         Section 1.  Paragraphs (a) and (d) of subsection (2)

11  and subsection (6) of section 212.055, Florida Statutes, are

12  amended to read:

13         212.055  Discretionary sales surtaxes; legislative

14  intent; authorization and use of proceeds.--It is the

15  legislative intent that any authorization for imposition of a

16  discretionary sales surtax shall be published in the Florida

17  Statutes as a subsection of this section, irrespective of the

18  duration of the levy.  Each enactment shall specify the types

19  of counties authorized to levy; the rate or rates which may be

20  imposed; the maximum length of time the surtax may be imposed,

21  if any; the procedure which must be followed to secure voter

22  approval, if required; the purpose for which the proceeds may

23  be expended; and such other requirements as the Legislature

24  may provide.  Taxable transactions and administrative

25  procedures shall be as provided in s. 212.054.

26         (2)  LOCAL GOVERNMENT INFRASTRUCTURE SURTAX.--

27         (a)1.  The governing authority in each county may levy

28  a discretionary sales surtax of 0.5 percent or 1 percent.  The

29  levy of the surtax shall be pursuant to ordinance enacted by a

30  two-thirds vote majority of the members of the county

31  governing authority or pursuant to ordinance enacted by a


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  1  majority of the members of the county governing authority and

  2  approved by a majority of the electors of the county voting in

  3  a referendum on the surtax.  If the governing bodies of the

  4  municipalities representing a majority of the county's

  5  population adopt uniform resolutions establishing the rate of

  6  the surtax and calling for a referendum on the surtax, the

  7  levy of the surtax shall be placed on the ballot and shall

  8  take effect if approved by a majority of the electors of the

  9  county voting in the referendum on the surtax.

10         2.  If the surtax was levied pursuant to a referendum

11  held before July 1, 1993, the surtax may not be levied beyond

12  the time established in the ordinance, or, if the ordinance

13  did not limit the period of the levy, the surtax may not be

14  levied for more than 15 years. The levy of such surtax may be

15  extended only by approval of a majority of the electors of the

16  county voting in a referendum on the surtax or pursuant to

17  ordinance enacted by a two-thirds vote of the members of the

18  county governing authority.

19         (d)1.  The proceeds of the surtax authorized by this

20  subsection and approved by referendum and any interest accrued

21  thereto shall be expended by the school district or within the

22  county and municipalities within the county, or, in the case

23  of a negotiated joint county agreement, within another county,

24  to finance, plan, and construct infrastructure and to acquire

25  land for public recreation or conservation or protection of

26  natural resources and to finance the closure of county-owned

27  or municipally owned solid waste landfills that are already

28  closed or are required to close by order of the Department of

29  Environmental Protection. Any use of such proceeds or interest

30  for purposes of landfill closure prior to July 1, 1993, is

31  ratified. Neither the proceeds nor any interest accrued


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  1  thereto shall be used for operational expenses of any

  2  infrastructure, except that any county with a population of

  3  less than 75,000 that is required to close a landfill by order

  4  of the Department of Environmental Protection may use the

  5  proceeds or any interest accrued thereto for long-term

  6  maintenance costs associated with landfill closure. Counties,

  7  as defined in s. 125.011(1), and charter counties may, in

  8  addition, use the proceeds and any interest accrued thereto to

  9  retire or service indebtedness incurred for bonds issued prior

10  to July 1, 1987, for infrastructure purposes, and for bonds

11  subsequently issued to refund such bonds.  Any use of such

12  proceeds or interest for purposes of retiring or servicing

13  indebtedness incurred for such refunding bonds prior to July

14  1, 1999, is ratified.

15         2.  The proceeds of the surtax where the surtax is

16  levied by a two-thirds vote of the governing body of the

17  county and any interest accrued thereto shall be expended by

18  the school district or within the county and municipalities

19  within the county for infrastructure located within the urban

20  service area that is identified in the local government

21  comprehensive plan of the county or municipality and is

22  identified in that local government's capital improvements

23  element adopted pursuant to s. 163.3177(3) or that is

24  identified in the school district's educational facilities

25  plan adopted pursuant to s. 235.185.

26         3.2.  For the purposes of this paragraph,

27  "infrastructure" means:

28         a.  Any fixed capital expenditure or fixed capital

29  outlay associated with the construction, reconstruction, or

30  improvement of public facilities which have a life expectancy

31


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  1  of 5 or more years and any land acquisition, land improvement,

  2  design, and engineering costs related thereto.

  3         b.  A fire department vehicle, an emergency medical

  4  service vehicle, a sheriff's office vehicle, a police

  5  department vehicle, or any other vehicle, and such equipment

  6  necessary to outfit the vehicle for its official use or

  7  equipment that has a life expectancy of at least 5 years.

  8         4.3.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this

  9  subsection, a discretionary sales surtax imposed or extended

10  after the effective date of this act may provide for an amount

11  not to exceed 15 percent of the local option sales surtax

12  proceeds to be allocated for deposit to a trust fund within

13  the county's accounts created for the purpose of funding

14  economic development projects of a general public purpose

15  targeted to improve local economies, including the funding of

16  operational costs and incentives related to such economic

17  development. If applicable, the ballot statement must indicate

18  the intention to make an allocation under the authority of

19  this subparagraph.

20         (6)  SCHOOL CAPITAL OUTLAY SURTAX.--

21         (a)  The school board in each county may levy, pursuant

22  to resolution conditioned to take effect only upon approval by

23  a majority vote of the electors of the county voting in a

24  referendum, a discretionary sales surtax at a rate that may

25  not exceed 0.5 percent.

26         (b)  The resolution shall include a statement that

27  provides a brief and general description of the school capital

28  outlay projects to be funded by the surtax. If applicable, the

29  resolution must state that the district school board has been

30  recognized by the State Board of Education as having a Florida

31  Frugal Schools Program. The statement shall conform to the


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  1  requirements of s. 101.161 and shall be placed on the ballot

  2  by the governing body of the county. The following question

  3  shall be placed on the ballot:

  4

  5        ....FOR THE               ....CENTS TAX

  6        ....AGAINST THE           ....CENTS TAX

  7

  8         (c)  As an alternative method of levying the

  9  discretionary sales surtax, the district school board may

10  levy, pursuant to resolution adopted by a two-thirds vote of

11  the members of the school board, a discretionary sales surtax

12  at a rate not to exceed 0.5 percent when the following

13  conditions are met:

14         1.  The district school board and local governments in

15  the county where the school district is located have adopted

16  an interlocal agreement and public educational facilities

17  element as  required by chapter 163;

18         2.  The district school board has adopted a district

19  educational facilities plan pursuant to s. 235.185; and

20         3.  The district's use of surtax proceeds for new

21  construction must not exceed the cost-per-student criteria

22  established for the SIT Program in s. 235.216(2).

23         (d)(c)  The resolution providing for the imposition of

24  the surtax shall set forth a plan for use of the surtax

25  proceeds for fixed capital expenditures or fixed capital costs

26  associated with the construction, reconstruction, or

27  improvement of school facilities and campuses which have a

28  useful life expectancy of 5 or more years, and any land

29  acquisition, land improvement, design, and engineering costs

30  related thereto. Additionally, the plan shall include the

31  costs of retrofitting and providing for technology


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  1  implementation, including hardware and software, for the

  2  various sites within the school district.  Surtax revenues may

  3  be used for the purpose of servicing bond indebtedness to

  4  finance projects authorized by this subsection, and any

  5  interest accrued thereto may be held in trust to finance such

  6  projects. Neither the proceeds of the surtax nor any interest

  7  accrued thereto shall be used for operational expenses. If the

  8  district school board has been recognized by the State Board

  9  of Education as having a Florida Frugal Schools Program, the

10  district's plan for use of the surtax proceeds must be

11  consistent with this subsection and with uses assured under

12  the Florida Frugal Schools Program.

13         (e)(d)  Any school board imposing the surtax shall

14  implement a freeze on noncapital local school property taxes,

15  at the millage rate imposed in the year prior to the

16  implementation of the surtax, for a period of at least 3 years

17  from the date of imposition of the surtax.  This provision

18  shall not apply to existing debt service or required state

19  taxes.

20         (f)(e)  Surtax revenues collected by the Department of

21  Revenue pursuant to this subsection shall be distributed to

22  the school board imposing the surtax in accordance with law.

23         Section 2.  Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (2) of

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

25         288.0655  Rural Infrastructure Fund.--

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

27  distributed by the office through a grant programs program

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

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

30  under the Small Cities Community Development Block Grant

31  Program.


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  1         (b)  To facilitate access of rural communities and

  2  rural areas of critical economic concern as defined by the

  3  Rural Economic Development Initiative to infrastructure

  4  funding programs of the Federal Government, such as those

  5  offered by the United States Department of Agriculture and the

  6  United States Department of Commerce, and state programs,

  7  including those offered by Rural Economic Development

  8  Initiative agencies, and to facilitate local government or

  9  private infrastructure funding efforts, the office may award

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

11  percent of the total infrastructure project cost. Eligible

12  projects must be related to specific job-creation or

13  job-retention job creating opportunities. Eligible projects

14  may also include improving any inadequate infrastructure that

15  has resulted in regulatory action that prohibits economic or

16  community growth or reducing the costs to community users of

17  proposed infrastructure improvements that exceed such costs in

18  comparable communities. Eligible uses of funds shall include

19  improvements to public infrastructure for industrial or

20  commercial sites and upgrades to or development of public

21  tourism infrastructure. Authorized infrastructure may include

22  the following public or public-private partnership facilities:

23  storm water systems; telecommunications facilities; roads or

24  other remedies to transportation impediments; nature-based

25  tourism facilities; or other physical requirements necessary

26  to facilitate tourism, trade, and economic development

27  activities in the community. Authorized infrastructure may

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

29  facilities and additions to the distribution facilities of the

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

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


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  1  existing water or wastewater utility as defined in s.

  2  367.021(12), or any other existing water or wastewater

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

  4  a water or wastewater system in this state where:

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

  6  to serve public or public-private partnership facilities under

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

  8  utility as defined herein; and

  9         2.  Such utilities as defined herein are willing and

10  able to provide such service.

11         Section 3.  Paragraphs (b) and (c) of subsection (3) of

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

13         288.095  Economic Development Trust Fund.--

14         (3)

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

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

17  Development based on actual project performance may not exceed

18  the amount appropriated to the Economic Development Incentives

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

20  the Legislature does not appropriate an amount sufficient to

21  satisfy estimates projections by the office for tax refunds

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

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

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

25  claim which shall be paid by dividing the amount appropriated

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

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

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

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

30  funds remain in the Economic Development Incentives Account

31  for tax refunds, the office shall recalculate the proportion


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

  2  accordingly.

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

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

  5  Economic Development shall submit a complete and detailed

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

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

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

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

10  VII of this chapter, of all applications received,

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

12  Economic Development, final decisions issued, tax refund

13  agreements executed, and tax refunds paid or other payments

14  made under all programs funded out of the Economic Development

15  Incentives Account, including analyses of benefits and costs,

16  types of projects supported, and employment and investment

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

18  Trade, and Economic Development shall also include a separate

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

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

21  brownfield areas, and distressed urban communities. By

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

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

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

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

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

27  discuss whether the authority and moneys appropriated by the

28  Legislature to the Economic Development Incentives Account

29  were managed and expended in a prudent, fiducially sound

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

31


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

  2  data related to business performance and incentive payments.

  3         Section 4.  Section 288.1045, Florida Statutes, is

  4  amended to read:

  5         288.1045  Qualified defense contractor tax refund

  6  program.--

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

  8         (a)  "Consolidation of a Department of Defense

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

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

11  contracts either from outside this state or from inside and

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

13  facilities inside this state.

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

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

16  standard metropolitan area in which the business unit is

17  located.

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

19  valid Department of Defense contract or any business entity

20  that is a subcontractor under a valid Department of Defense

21  contract or any business entity that holds a valid contract

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

23  members of an affiliated group of corporations as defined in

24  s. 220.03(1)(b).

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

26  Economic Development.

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

28  competitively bid Department of Defense contract or

29  subcontract or a competitively bid federal agency contract or

30  subcontract issued on behalf of the Department of Defense for

31  manufacturing, assembling, fabricating, research, development,


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

  2  any contract to provide goods, improvements to real or

  3  tangible property, or services directly to or for any

  4  particular military base or installation in this state. The

  5  term includes contracts or subcontracts for products or

  6  services for military use which contracts or subcontracts are

  7  approved by the United States Department of Defense, the

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

  9  Guard.

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

11  Department of Defense contract entered into after the date

12  application for certification as a qualified applicant is made

13  and after January 1, 1994.

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

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

16  Workforce Innovation Department of Labor and Employment

17  Security for the purpose of unemployment compensation tax,

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

19  does not include temporary construction jobs involved with the

20  construction of facilities for the project.

21         (h)  "Nondefense production jobs" means employment

22  exclusively for activities that, directly or indirectly, are

23  unrelated to the Department of Defense.

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

25  state under a new Department of Defense contract,

26  consolidation of a Department of Defense contract, or

27  conversion of defense production jobs over to nondefense

28  production jobs or reuse of defense-related facilities.

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

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

31  pursuant to this section.


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

  2  Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development.

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

  4  220.03(1)(z).

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

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

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

  8  Workforce Innovation Department of Labor and Employment

  9  Security for unemployment compensation purposes or means a

10  subcategory or division of an employing unit that is accepted

11  by the Agency for Workforce Innovation Department of Labor and

12  Employment Security as a reporting unit.

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

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

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

16  annual tax refund for a qualified applicant. Local financial

17  support may include excess payments made to a utility company

18  under a designated program to allow decreases in service by

19  the utility company under conditions, regardless of when

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

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

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

23  directly or indirectly, state funds appropriated from the

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

25  revenues shared with local governments pursuant to law.

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

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

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

29  research, development, or design of tangible personal

30  property, but excluding any contract to provide goods,

31  improvements to real or tangible property, or services


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    CS for SB 1186                                 First Engrossed



  1  directly to or for any particular military base or

  2  installation in this state. Such facility must be located

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

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

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

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

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

  8  defense-related facility may not include any contract for

  9  reuse of such facility for any Department of Defense contract

10  for manufacturing, assembling, fabricating, research,

11  development, or design.

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

13  the option to exercise an exemption from the local financial

14  support requirement available to any applicant whose project

15  is located in a county designated by the Rural Economic

16  Development Initiative, if the county commissioners of the

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

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

19  local financial support requirement. Any applicant that

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

21  of the total tax refunds allowed such applicant under this

22  section.

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

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

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

26  the amount of eligible taxes certified by the director which

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

28  refunds for all fiscal years for each qualified applicant

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

30  amount of a refund to a qualified applicant shall be

31  determined pursuant to subsection (5).


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    CS for SB 1186                                 First Engrossed



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

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

  3  provided in the tax refund agreement pursuant to subparagraph

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

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

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

  7  fiscal year, provided that no qualified applicant may receive

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

  9  in any fiscal year.

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

11  $7.5 million in tax refunds pursuant to this section in all

12  fiscal years.

13         (d)  Contingent upon an annual appropriation by the

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

15  than the amount appropriated to the Economic Development Trust

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

17  (5) and s. 288.095.

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

19  director shall set aside 30 percent of the amount appropriated

20  for refunds pursuant to this section by the Legislature to

21  provide tax refunds only to qualified applicants who employ

22  500 or fewer full-time employees in this state. Any

23  unencumbered funds remaining undisbursed from this set-aside

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

25  refunds for any qualified applicants pursuant to this section.

26         (f)  After entering into a tax refund agreement

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

28  refunds from the Economic Development Trust Fund for the

29  following taxes due and paid by the qualified applicant

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

31  after entering into the agreement:


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    CS for SB 1186                                 First Engrossed



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

  2  pursuant to chapter 212.

  3         2.  Corporate income taxes paid pursuant to chapter

  4  220.

  5         3.  Intangible personal property taxes paid pursuant to

  6  chapter 199.

  7         4.  Emergency excise taxes paid pursuant to chapter

  8  221.

  9         5.  Excise taxes paid on documents pursuant to chapter

10  201.

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

12  220.03(1)(a) on June 1, 1996.

13

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

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

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

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

18  are subsequently adjusted by the application of any credit,

19  refund, or exemption granted to the qualified applicant other

20  than that provided in this section, the qualified applicant

21  shall reimburse the Economic Development Trust Fund for the

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

23  applicant must notify and tender payment to the office within

24  20 days after receiving a credit, refund, or exemption, other

25  than that provided in this section.

26         (g)  Any qualified applicant who fraudulently claims

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

28  Economic Development Trust Fund plus a mandatory penalty of

29  200 percent of the tax refund which shall be deposited into

30  the General Revenue Fund. Any qualified applicant who

31  fraudulently claims this refund commits a felony of the third


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    CS for SB 1186                                 First Engrossed



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

  2  s. 775.084.

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

  4  not be expended in connection with the relocation of a

  5  business from one community to another community in this state

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

  7  determines that without such relocation the business will move

  8  outside this state or determines that the business has a

  9  compelling economic rationale for the relocation which creates

10  additional jobs.

11         (3)  APPLICATION PROCESS; REQUIREMENTS; AGENCY

12  DETERMINATION.--

13         (a)  To apply for certification as a qualified

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

15  application with the office which satisfies the requirements

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

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

18  certification pursuant to this section after a proposal has

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

20  the applicant has made the decision to consolidate an existing

21  Department of Defense contract in this state for which such

22  applicant is seeking certification, or after the applicant has

23  made the decision to convert defense production jobs to

24  nondefense production jobs for which such applicant is seeking

25  certification.

26         (b)  Applications for certification based on the

27  consolidation of a Department of Defense contract or a new

28  Department of Defense contract must be submitted to the office

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

30  limited to, the following information:

31


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    CS for SB 1186                                 First Engrossed



  1         1.  The applicant's federal employer identification

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

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

  4         2.  The permanent location of the manufacturing,

  5  assembling, fabricating, research, development, or design

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

  7  located.

  8         3.  The Department of Defense contract numbers of the

  9  contract to be consolidated, the new Department of Defense

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

11  of Defense contract.

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

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

14  is expected to expire.

15         5.  The commencement date for project operations under

16  the contract in this state.

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

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

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

20  average wage of such jobs.

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

22  employed by the applicant in this state.

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

24  derived from Department of Defense contracts during the 5

25  taxable years immediately preceding the date the application

26  is submitted.

27         9.  The amount of:

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

29  pursuant to chapter 212;

30         b.  Corporate income taxes paid pursuant to chapter

31  220;


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    CS for SB 1186                                 First Engrossed



  1         c.  Intangible personal property taxes paid pursuant to

  2  chapter 199;

  3         d.  Emergency excise taxes paid pursuant to chapter

  4  221;

  5         e.  Excise taxes paid on documents pursuant to chapter

  6  201; and

  7         f.  Ad valorem taxes paid

  8

  9  during the 5 fiscal years immediately preceding the date of

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

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

12  the application.

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

14  for in each fiscal year.

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

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

17  applicant.

18         12.  A resolution adopted by the county commissioners

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

20  recommends the applicant be approved as a qualified applicant,

21  and which indicates that the necessary commitments of local

22  financial support for the applicant exist. Prior to the

23  adoption of the resolution, the county commission may review

24  the proposed public or private sources of such support and

25  determine whether the proposed sources of local financial

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

27  located in a county designated by the Rural Economic

28  Development Initiative, a resolution adopted by the county

29  commissioners of such county requesting that the applicant's

30  project be exempt from the local financial support

31  requirement.


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    CS for SB 1186                                 First Engrossed



  1         13.  Any additional information requested by the

  2  office.

  3         (c)  Applications for certification based on the

  4  conversion of defense production jobs to nondefense production

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

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

  7  information:

  8         1.  The applicant's federal employer identification

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

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

11         2.  The permanent location of the manufacturing,

12  assembling, fabricating, research, development, or design

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

14  located.

15         3.  The Department of Defense contract numbers of the

16  contract under which the defense production jobs will be

17  converted to nondefense production jobs.

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

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

20  canceled.

21         5.  The commencement date for the nondefense production

22  operations in this state.

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

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

25  the nondefense production project as of December 31 of each

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

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

28  employed by the applicant in this state.

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

30  derived from Department of Defense contracts during the 5

31


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    CS for SB 1186                                 First Engrossed



  1  taxable years immediately preceding the date the application

  2  is submitted.

  3         9.  The amount of:

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

  5  pursuant to chapter 212;

  6         b.  Corporate income taxes paid pursuant to chapter

  7  220;

  8         c.  Intangible personal property taxes paid pursuant to

  9  chapter 199;

10         d.  Emergency excise taxes paid pursuant to chapter

11  221;

12         e.  Excise taxes paid on documents pursuant to chapter

13  201; and

14         f.  Ad valorem taxes paid

15

16  during the 5 fiscal years immediately preceding the date of

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

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

19  the application.

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

21  for in each fiscal year.

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

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

24  applicant.

25         12.  A resolution adopted by the county commissioners

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

27  recommends the applicant be approved as a qualified applicant,

28  and which indicates that the necessary commitments of local

29  financial support for the applicant exist. Prior to the

30  adoption of the resolution, the county commission may review

31  the proposed public or private sources of such support and


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    CS for SB 1186                                 First Engrossed



  1  determine whether the proposed sources of local financial

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

  3  located in a county designated by the Rural Economic

  4  Development Initiative, a resolution adopted by the county

  5  commissioners of such county requesting that the applicant's

  6  project be exempt from the local financial support

  7  requirement.

  8         13.  Any additional information requested by the

  9  office.

10         (d)  Applications for certification based on a contract

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

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

13  are not limited to, the following information:

14         1.  The applicant's Florida sales tax registration

15  number and a notarized signature of an officer of the

16  applicant.

17         2.  The permanent location of the manufacturing,

18  assembling, fabricating, research, development, or design

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

20  located.

21         3.  The business entity holding a valid Department of

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

23  States that previously occupied the facility, and the date

24  such entity last occupied the facility.

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

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

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

28  facility.

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

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

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


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    CS for SB 1186                                 First Engrossed



  1         6.  The commencement date for project operations under

  2  the contract in this state.

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

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

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

  6  average wage of such jobs.

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

  8  employed by the applicant in this state.

  9         9.  The amount of:

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

11  pursuant to chapter 212.

12         b.  Corporate income taxes paid pursuant to chapter

13  220.

14         c.  Intangible personal property taxes paid pursuant to

15  chapter 199.

16         d.  Emergency excise taxes paid pursuant to chapter

17  221.

18         e.  Excise taxes paid on documents pursuant to chapter

19  201.

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

21  immediately preceding the date of the application, and the

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

23  years immediately following the date of the application.

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

25  for in each fiscal year.

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

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

28  applicant.

29         12.  A resolution adopted by the county commissioners

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

31  recommends the applicant be approved as a qualified applicant,


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    CS for SB 1186                                 First Engrossed



  1  and which indicates that the necessary commitments of local

  2  financial support for the applicant exist. Prior to the

  3  adoption of the resolution, the county commission may review

  4  the proposed public or private sources of such support and

  5  determine whether the proposed sources of local financial

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

  7  located in a county designated by the Rural Economic

  8  Development Initiative, a resolution adopted by the county

  9  commissioners of such county requesting that the applicant's

10  project be exempt from the local financial support

11  requirement.

12         13.  Any additional information requested by the

13  office.

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

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

16  following to the satisfaction of the office:

17         1.  The jobs proposed to be provided under the

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

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

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

21  project is to be located.

22         2.  The consolidation of a Department of Defense

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

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

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

26  facilities in this state.

27         3.  The conversion of defense production jobs to

28  nondefense production jobs must result in net increases in

29  nondefense employment at the applicant's facilities in this

30  state.

31


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    CS for SB 1186                                 First Engrossed



  1         4.  The Department of Defense contract cannot allow the

  2  business to include the costs of relocation or retooling in

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

  4  contract.

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

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

  7  state from Department of Defense contracts over the

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

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

10  state from Department of Defense contracts over the 5 years

11  preceding the date an application is submitted pursuant to

12  this section. This subparagraph does not apply to any

13  application for certification based on a contract for reuse of

14  a defense-related facility.

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

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

17         (f)  Each application meeting the requirements of

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

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

20  determination of eligibility. The office shall review,

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

22  to, the following criteria:

23         1.  Expected contributions to the state strategic

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

25  taking into account the extent to which the project

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

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

28  state's economy.

29         2.  The economic benefit of the jobs created or

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

31


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    CS for SB 1186                                 First Engrossed



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

  2  potential risk to existing jobs.

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

  4  applicant in this state.

  5         4.  The local commitment and support for the project

  6  and applicant.

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

  8  taking into account the unemployment rate for the county where

  9  the project will be located.

10         6.  The dependence of the local community on the

11  defense industry.

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

13  this section on the viability of the project and the

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

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

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

17  growth and employment in this state.

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

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

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

21  evaluation on each application meeting the requirements of

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

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

24  receipt of a complete application. The office shall notify

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

26  60-day period begins. In its written report to the director,

27  the office shall specifically address each of the factors

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

29  assessment with respect to the minimum requirements

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

31  report projections of the tax refunds the applicant would be


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    CS for SB 1186                                 First Engrossed



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

  2  applicant in each fiscal year based on the creation and

  3  maintenance of the net new Florida jobs specified in

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

  5  preceding state fiscal year information submitted in the

  6  application.

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

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

  9  certification which enter a final order that either approves

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

11  and provide the justifications for either approval or

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

13  written agreement with the qualified applicant pursuant to

14  subsection (4).

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

16  that certifies any applicant as a qualified applicant when the

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

18  certification final order exceeds the available amount of

19  authority to certify new businesses enter final orders as

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

21  order that approves an application must specify the maximum

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

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

24  refunds for all fiscal years.

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

26  applicant should receive any tax refunds under this section.

27         (4)  QUALIFIED DEFENSE CONTRACTOR TAX REFUND

28  AGREEMENT.--

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

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

31  following:


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    CS for SB 1186                                 First Engrossed



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

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

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

  4  definitions that will apply for measuring the achievement of

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

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

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

  8  information contained in the application submitted by the

  9  contractor pursuant to subsection (3).

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

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

12  based on the job creation or retention and maintenance

13  schedule specified in subparagraph 1.

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

15  review and verify the financial and personnel records of the

16  qualified applicant to ascertain whether the qualified

17  applicant is complying with the requirements of this section.

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

19  qualified applicant may file a an annual claim pursuant to

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

21  following fiscal year.

22         5.  That local financial support shall be annually

23  available and will be paid to the Economic Development Trust

24  Fund.

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

26  agreement is a condition precedent for receipt of tax refunds

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

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

29  receipt of all tax refunds previously authorized pursuant to

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

31  qualified applicant by the director, unless the qualified


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    CS for SB 1186                                 First Engrossed



  1  applicant is eligible to receive and elects to accept a

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

  3  the qualified applicant an economic-stimulus exemption.

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

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

  6  request must provide quantitative evidence demonstrating how

  7  negative economic conditions in the qualified applicant's

  8  industry have prevented the qualified applicant from complying

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

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

11  the director shall have 45 days to notify the requesting

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

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

14  granted, the director shall consider the extent to which

15  negative economic conditions in the requesting qualified

16  applicant's industry have prevented the qualified applicant

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

18  agreement.

19         3.  As a condition for receiving a prorated refund

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

21  this paragraph, a qualified applicant must agree to

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

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

24  current law and office procedures governing application for

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

26  prorated refund or granting an economic-stimulus exemption,

27  the office shall renegotiate the tax refund agreement with the

28  qualified applicant as required by this subparagraph. When

29  amending the agreement of a qualified applicant receiving an

30  economic-stimulus exemption, the office may extend the

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


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    CS for SB 1186                                 First Engrossed



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

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

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

  4  but before July 1, 2003.

  5         5.  A qualified applicant that receives an

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

  7  the period covered by the exemption.

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

  9  the authorized officer of the qualified applicant.

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

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

12  points:

13

14         "This agreement is neither a general obligation

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

16         the full faith and credit of the State of

17         Florida. Payment of tax refunds are conditioned

18         on and subject to specific annual

19         appropriations by the Florida Legislature of

20         funds sufficient to pay amounts authorized in

21         s. 288.1045, Florida Statutes."

22

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

24  CONTRACTOR.--

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

26  qualified applicants who have entered into a written agreement

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

28  entered into a valid new Department of Defense contract,

29  commenced the consolidation of a Department of Defense

30  contract, commenced the conversion of defense production jobs

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


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    CS for SB 1186                                 First Engrossed



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

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

  3  for tax refunds scheduled to be paid from the appropriation

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

13  achieving each performance item contained in the tax refund

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

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

16  year in the written agreement entered pursuant to subsection

17  (4).

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

19  applicant unless local financial support has been paid to the

20  Economic Development Trust Fund for in that refund fiscal

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

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

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

24  support received. Funding from local sources includes tax

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

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

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

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

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

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

31


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    CS for SB 1186                                 First Engrossed



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

  2  paid to the Economic Development Trust Fund.

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

  4  Department of Revenue, and the Agency for Workforce Innovation

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

  6  following the scheduled date for submitting the tax-refund

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

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

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

10  qualified applicant for the fiscal year in a written final

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

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

13  extension of this date upon the request of the qualified

14  applicant for the purpose of filing additional information in

15  support of the claim.

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

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

18  the amount appropriated to the Economic Development Trust Fund

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

20  not appropriate an amount sufficient to satisfy projections by

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

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

23  proportion of each refund claim which shall be paid by

24  dividing the amount appropriated for tax refunds for the

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

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

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

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

29  Economic Development Trust Fund for tax refunds, the director

30  shall recalculate the proportion for each refund claim and

31  adjust the amount of each claim accordingly.


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    CS for SB 1186                                 First Engrossed



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

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

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

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

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

  6  qualified applicant until the conclusion of all appeals of the

  7  written final order.

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

  9  shall be approved for a qualified applicant provided all other

10  applicable requirements have been satisfied and the applicant

11  proves to the satisfaction of the director that it has

12  achieved at least 80 percent of its projected employment and

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

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

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

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

17  of certification. The prorated tax refund shall be calculated

18  by multiplying the tax refund amount for which the qualified

19  applicant would have been eligible, if all applicable

20  requirements had been satisfied, by the percentage of the

21  average employment specified in the tax refund agreement which

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

23  specified in the tax refund agreement which was achieved.

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

25  tax refund claim will be approved and paid.

26         (6)  ADMINISTRATION.--

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

28  for the administration of this section.

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

30  claim submitted for tax credits under this section with regard

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


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    CS for SB 1186                                 First Engrossed



  1  the appropriate agency or authority including the Department

  2  of Revenue, the Agency for Workforce Innovation Department of

  3  Labor and Employment Security, or any local government or

  4  authority.

  5         (c)  To facilitate the process of monitoring and

  6  auditing applications made under this program, the office may

  7  provide a list of qualified applicants to the Department of

  8  Revenue, to the Agency for Workforce Innovation Department of

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

10  authority. The office may request the assistance of said

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

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

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

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

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

16  Representatives of all tax refunds paid under this section,

17  including analyses of benefits and costs, types of projects

18  supported, employment and investment created, geographic

19  distribution of tax refunds granted, and minority business

20  participation.  The report must indicate whether the moneys

21  appropriated by the Legislature to the qualified applicant tax

22  refund program were expended in a prudent, fiducially sound

23  manner.

24         (e)  Funds specifically appropriated for the tax refund

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

26  other than the payment of tax refunds authorized by this

27  section.

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

29  qualified under this section after June 30, 2004.

30         Section 5.  Paragraphs (a) and (d) of subsection (3),

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


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    CS for SB 1186                                 First Engrossed



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

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

  3  to read:

  4         288.106  Tax refund program for qualified target

  5  industry businesses.--

  6         (3)  APPLICATION AND APPROVAL PROCESS.--

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

  8  industry business under this section, the business must file

  9  an application with the office before the business has made

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

11  the business had made the decision to expand an existing

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

13  not limited to, the following information:

14         1.  The applicant's federal employer identification

15  number and the applicant's state sales tax registration

16  number.

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

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

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

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

21  for all activities included in the project.

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

23  jobs at the qualified target industry business as of December

24  31 of each year included in this state that are or will be

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

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

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

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

29  business activity or product.

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

31  employed by the applicant in this state.


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    CS for SB 1186                                 First Engrossed



  1         6.  The anticipated commencement date of the project.

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

  3  refunds requested will play in the decision of the applicant

  4  to locate or expand in this state.

  5         8.  An estimate of the proportion of the sales

  6  resulting from the project that will be made outside this

  7  state.

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

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

10  which resolution recommends that certain types of businesses

11  be approved as a qualified target industry business and states

12  that the commitments of local financial support necessary for

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

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

15  letter from an authorized local economic development agency

16  that endorses the proposed target industry project and pledges

17  that sources of local financial support for such project

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

19  support under this subsection, the authorized local economic

20  development agency shall be officially designated by the

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

22  authority.

23         10.  Any additional information requested by the

24  office.

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

26  evaluation concerning each application meeting the

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

28  calendar days after receipt of a complete application. The

29  office shall notify each target industry business when its

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

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


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    CS for SB 1186                                 First Engrossed



  1  office shall specifically address each of the factors

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

  3  assessment with respect to the minimum requirements

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

  5  report projections of the tax refunds the business would be

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

  7  target industry business in each fiscal year based on the

  8  creation and maintenance of the net new Florida jobs specified

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

10  fiscal year information submitted in the application.

11         (4)  TAX REFUND AGREEMENT.--

12         (a)  Each qualified target industry business must enter

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

14  minimum:

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

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

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

18  measuring the achievement of these terms during the pendency

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

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

21  information must be the same as the information contained in

22  the application submitted by the business under subsection

23  (3).

24         2.  The maximum amount of tax refunds which the

25  qualified target industry business is eligible to receive on

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

27  qualified target industry business is eligible to receive for

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

29  schedule specified in subparagraph 1.

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

31  and personnel records of the qualified target industry


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    CS for SB 1186                                 First Engrossed



  1  business to ascertain whether that business is in compliance

  2  with this section.

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

  4  qualified target industry business may file a an annual claim

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

  6  in the following fiscal year.

  7         5.  That local financial support will be annually

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

  9  not enter into a written agreement with a qualified target

10  industry business if the local financial support resolution is

11  not passed by the local governing authority within 90 days

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

13  subsection (3).

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

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

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

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

18  eligibility for receipt of all tax refunds previously

19  authorized under this section and the revocation by the

20  director of the certification of the business entity as a

21  qualified target industry business, unless the business is

22  eligible to receive and elects to accept a prorated refund

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

24  economic-stimulus exemption.

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

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

27  exemption. The request must provide quantitative evidence

28  demonstrating how negative economic conditions in the

29  business's industry have prevented the business from complying

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

31


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    CS for SB 1186                                 First Engrossed



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

  2  the director shall have 45 days to notify the requesting

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

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

  5  director shall consider the extent to which negative economic

  6  conditions in the requesting business's industry have

  7  prevented the business from complying with the terms and

  8  conditions of its tax refund agreement.

  9         3.  As a condition for receiving a prorated refund

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

11  this paragraph, a qualified target industry business must

12  agree to renegotiate its tax refund agreement with the office

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

14  comply with current law and office procedures governing

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

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

17  exemption, the office shall renegotiate the tax refund

18  agreement with the business as required by this subparagraph.

19  When amending the agreement of a business receiving an

20  economic-stimulus exemption, the office may extend the

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

22         4.  A qualified target industry business may submit a

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

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

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

26         5.  A qualified target industry business that receives

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

28  for the period covered by the exemption.

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

30  by an authorized officer of the qualified target industry

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


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    CS for SB 1186                                 First Engrossed



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

  2  receipt of the resolution of local financial support. The

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

  4  request of the qualified target industry business.

  5         (5)  ANNUAL CLAIM FOR REFUND.--

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

  7  a qualified target industry business that has entered into a

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

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

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

11  appropriation for the fiscal year that begins on July 1

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

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

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

15  specified in that agreement.

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

17  industry business must include a copy of all receipts

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

19  sought and data related to achievement of each performance

20  item specified in the tax refund agreement. The amount

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

22  for the relevant that fiscal year in that agreement.

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

24  target industry business unless the required local financial

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

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

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

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

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

30  financial support received. Further, funding from local

31  sources includes any tax abatement granted to that business


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    CS for SB 1186                                 First Engrossed



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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

10  when such support is paid to the account.

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

12  shall be approved for a qualified target industry business

13  provided all other applicable requirements have been satisfied

14  and the business proves to the satisfaction of the director

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

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

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

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

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

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

21  private-sector wage if the business requested the additional

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

23  above those levels. The prorated tax refund shall be

24  calculated by multiplying the tax refund amount for which the

25  qualified target industry business would have been eligible,

26  if all applicable requirements had been satisfied, by the

27  percentage of the average employment specified in the tax

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

29  the average wages specified in the tax refund agreement which

30  was achieved.

31


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    CS for SB 1186                                 First Engrossed



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

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

  3  Agency for Workforce Innovation Department of Labor and

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

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

  6  written final order the approval or disapproval of the tax

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

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

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

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

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

12  the request of the qualified target industry business for the

13  purpose of filing additional information in support of the

14  claim.

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

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

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

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

19  tax refund claim will be approved and paid.

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

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

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

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

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

25  industry business until the conclusion of all appeals of that

26  order.

27         (6)  ADMINISTRATION.--

28         (a)  The office is authorized to verify information

29  provided in any claim submitted for tax credits under this

30  section with regard to employment and wage levels or the

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


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    CS for SB 1186                                 First Engrossed



  1  including the Department of Revenue, the Agency for Workforce

  2  Innovation Department of Labor and Employment Security, or any

  3  local government or authority.

  4         (b)  To facilitate the process of monitoring and

  5  auditing applications made under this program, the office may

  6  provide a list of qualified target industry businesses to the

  7  Department of Revenue, to the Agency for Workforce Innovation

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

  9  government or authority. The office may request the assistance

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

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

12         (c)  Funds specifically appropriated for the tax refund

13  program for qualified target industry businesses may not be

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

15  authorized by this section.

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

17         Section 6.  Paragraph (k) of subsection (7) of section

18  213.053, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

19         213.053  Confidentiality and information sharing.--

20         (7)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this

21  section, the department may provide:

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

23  201, 212, 220, and 221, and 624 to the Office of Tourism,

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

25  that are identified in writing by the office to the

26  department, in the its administration of the tax refund

27  program for qualified defense contractors authorized by s.

28  288.1045 and the tax refund program for qualified target

29  industry businesses authorized by s. 288.106.

30         2.  Information relative to tax credits taken by a

31  business under s. 220.191 and exemptions or tax refunds


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    CS for SB 1186                                 First Engrossed



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

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

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

  4  department, in the administration and evaluation of the

  5  capital investment tax credit program authorized in s. 220.191

  6  and the semiconductor, defense, and space tax exemption

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

  8

  9  Disclosure of information under this subsection shall be

10  pursuant to a written agreement between the executive director

11  and the agency.  Such agencies, governmental or

12  nongovernmental, shall be bound by the same requirements of

13  confidentiality as the Department of Revenue.  Breach of

14  confidentiality is a misdemeanor of the first degree,

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

16         Section 7.  Sections 7 and 8 of this act may be cited

17  as the "Tourism Industry Recovery Act of 2002."

18         Section 8.  Paragraphs (l) and (n) of subsection (3) of

19  section 125.0104, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

20         125.0104  Tourist development tax; procedure for

21  levying; authorized uses; referendum; enforcement.--

22         (3)  TAXABLE PRIVILEGES; EXEMPTIONS; LEVY; RATE.--

23         (l)  In addition to any other tax which is imposed

24  pursuant to this section, a county may impose up to an

25  additional 1-percent tax on the exercise of the privilege

26  described in paragraph (a) by majority vote of the governing

27  board of the county in order to:

28         1.  Pay the debt service on bonds issued to finance the

29  construction, reconstruction, or renovation of a professional

30  sports franchise facility, or the acquisition, construction,

31  reconstruction, or renovation of a retained spring training


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    CS for SB 1186                                 First Engrossed



  1  franchise facility, either publicly owned and operated, or

  2  publicly owned and operated by the owner of a professional

  3  sports franchise or other lessee with sufficient expertise or

  4  financial capability to operate such facility, and to pay the

  5  planning and design costs incurred prior to the issuance of

  6  such bonds.

  7         2.  Pay the debt service on bonds issued to finance the

  8  construction, reconstruction, or renovation of a convention

  9  center, and to pay the planning and design costs incurred

10  prior to the issuance of such bonds.

11         3.  Pay the operation and maintenance costs of a

12  convention center for a period of up to 10 years. Only

13  counties that have elected to levy the tax for the purposes

14  authorized in subparagraph 2. may use the tax for the purposes

15  enumerated in this subparagraph. Any county that elects to

16  levy the tax for the purposes authorized in subparagraph 2.

17  after July 1, 2000, may use the proceeds of the tax to pay the

18  operation and maintenance costs of a convention center for the

19  life of the bonds.

20         4.  Promote and advertise tourism in the State of

21  Florida and nationally and internationally; however, if tax

22  revenues are expended for an activity, service, venue, or

23  event, the activity, service, venue, or event shall have as

24  one of its main purposes the attraction of tourists as

25  evidenced by the promotion of the activity, service, venue, or

26  event to tourists.

27

28  The provision of paragraph (b) which prohibits any county

29  authorized to levy a convention development tax pursuant to s.

30  212.0305 from levying more than the 2-percent tax authorized

31  by this section, and the provisions of paragraphs (4)(a)-(d),


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    CS for SB 1186                                 First Engrossed



  1  shall not apply to the additional tax authorized in this

  2  paragraph. The effective date of the levy and imposition of

  3  the tax authorized under this paragraph shall be the first day

  4  of the second month following approval of the ordinance by the

  5  governing board or the first day of any subsequent month as

  6  may be specified in the ordinance.  A certified copy of such

  7  ordinance shall be furnished by the county to the Department

  8  of Revenue within 10 days after approval of such ordinance.

  9         (n)  In addition to any other tax that is imposed under

10  this section, a county that has imposed the tax under

11  paragraph (l) may impose an additional tax that is no greater

12  than 1 percent on the exercise of the privilege described in

13  paragraph (a) by a majority plus one vote of the membership of

14  the board of county commissioners in order to:

15         1.  Pay the debt service on bonds issued to finance:

16         a.1.  The construction, reconstruction, or renovation

17  of a facility either publicly owned and operated, or publicly

18  owned and operated by the owner of a professional sports

19  franchise or other lessee with sufficient expertise or

20  financial capability to operate such facility, and to pay the

21  planning and design costs incurred prior to the issuance of

22  such bonds for a new professional sports franchise as defined

23  in s. 288.1162.

24         b.2.  The acquisition, construction, reconstruction, or

25  renovation of a facility either publicly owned and operated,

26  or publicly owned and operated by the owner of a professional

27  sports franchise or other lessee with sufficient expertise or

28  financial capability to operate such facility, and to pay the

29  planning and design costs incurred prior to the issuance of

30  such bonds for a retained spring training franchise.

31


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    CS for SB 1186                                 First Engrossed



  1         2.  Promote and advertise tourism in the State of

  2  Florida and nationally and internationally; however, if tax

  3  revenues are expended for an activity, service, venue, or

  4  event, the activity, service, venue, or event shall have as

  5  one of its main purposes the attraction of tourists as

  6  evidenced by the promotion of the activity, service, venue, or

  7  event to tourists.

  8

  9  A county that imposes the tax authorized in this paragraph may

10  not expend any ad valorem tax revenues for the acquisition,

11  construction, reconstruction, or renovation of a that facility

12  for which tax revenues are used pursuant to subparagraph 1.

13  The provision of paragraph (b) which prohibits any county

14  authorized to levy a convention development tax pursuant to s.

15  212.0305 from levying more than the 2-percent tax authorized

16  by this section shall not apply to the additional tax

17  authorized by this paragraph in counties which levy convention

18  development taxes pursuant to s. 212.0305(4)(a). Subsection

19  (4) does not apply to the adoption of the additional tax

20  authorized in this paragraph. The effective date of the levy

21  and imposition of the tax authorized under this paragraph is

22  the first day of the second month following approval of the

23  ordinance by the board of county commissioners or the first

24  day of any subsequent month specified in the ordinance. A

25  certified copy of such ordinance shall be furnished by the

26  county to the Department of Revenue within 10 days after

27  approval of the ordinance.

28         Section 9.  Notwithstanding section 18 of CS for CS for

29  SB 1360, 2002 Regular Session, section 197.1722, Florida

30  Statutes, as created by section 16 of that bill, shall not

31  take effect January 1, 2003, but shall take effect on the date


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    CS for SB 1186                                 First Engrossed



  1  CS for CS for SB 1360, Regular Session, becomes a law and

  2  shall apply retroactively to January 1, 2002.

  3         Section 10.  Notwithstanding any provisions in section

  4  290.0055, Florida Statutes, regarding the size of an

  5  enterprise zone, a county as defined in section 125.011(1),

  6  Florida Statutes, may apply to the Office of Tourism, Trade,

  7  and Economic Development before October 1, 2002, to amend the

  8  boundary lines of its existing enterprise zone in order to add

  9  an area not exceeding 4 square miles. The area proposed for

10  addition to the enterprise zone under this section must be

11  contiguous to a portion of the existing enterprise zone and

12  must be part of a revitalization area that has been targeted

13  for assistance by the county or by a municipality within the

14  county. The area proposed for addition to the enterprise zone

15  also must contain a high concentration of individuals who have

16  immigrated to this state from Haiti. The Office of Tourism,

17  Trade, and Economic Development shall approve an amendment to

18  the enterprise zone boundary lines, effective January 1, 2003,

19  provided that the area proposed for addition to the enterprise

20  zone is consistent with the criteria and conditions imposed by

21  section 290.0055, Florida Statutes, upon the establishment of

22  enterprise zones, including the requirement that the area

23  suffer from pervasive poverty, unemployment, and general

24  distress.

25         Section 11.  Notwithstanding any provisions in section

26  290.0055, Florida Statutes, regarding the size of an

27  enterprise zone, a county as defined in section 125.011(1),

28  Florida Statutes, may apply to the Office of Tourism, Trade,

29  and Economic Development before October 1, 2002, to amend the

30  boundary lines of its existing enterprise zone in order to add

31  an area not exceeding 4 square miles. The area proposed for


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    CS for SB 1186                                 First Engrossed



  1  addition to the enterprise zone under this section must be

  2  contiguous to a portion of the existing enterprise zone and

  3  must be part of a revitalization area that has been targeted

  4  for assistance by a commission authorized in section 163.06,

  5  Florida Statutes. The Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic

  6  Development shall approve an amendment to the enterprise zone

  7  boundary lines, effective January 1, 2003, provided that the

  8  area proposed for addition to the enterprise zone is

  9  consistent with the criteria and conditions imposed by section

10  290.0055, Florida Statutes, upon the establishment of

11  enterprise zones, including the requirement that the area

12  suffer from pervasive poverty, unemployment, and general

13  distress. The area proposed for addition to the enterprise

14  zone under this section may not include any property used for

15  the benefit of a professional sports franchise. Any portion of

16  the area designated under this section by the Office of

17  Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development as an addition to an

18  enterprise zone shall automatically lose its status as part of

19  an enterprise zone if such portion subsequently includes

20  property used for the benefit of a professional sports

21  franchise.

22         Section 12.  Sections of this act authorizing a county

23  as defined in section 125.011(1), Florida Statutes, to amend

24  and expand the boundary lines of an existing enterprise zone

25  are not mutually exclusive.

26         Section 13.  Section 290.00686, Florida Statutes, is

27  created to read:

28         290.00686  Enterprise zone designation for Brevard

29  County, Cocoa, or Brevard County and Cocoa.--Brevard County,

30  the City of Cocoa, or Brevard County and the City of Cocoa

31  jointly, may apply to the Office of Tourism, Trade, and


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    CS for SB 1186                                 First Engrossed



  1  Economic Development for designation of one enterprise zone

  2  encompassing an area which includes the boundaries of the

  3  three community redevelopment areas established pursuant to

  4  part III of chapter 163. The application must be submitted by

  5  December 31, 2002, and must comply with the requirements of

  6  section 290.0055. Notwithstanding the provisions of section

  7  290.0065 limiting the total number of enterprise zones

  8  designated and the number of enterprise zones within a

  9  population category, the Office of Tourism, Trade, and

10  Economic Development may designate one enterprise zone under

11  this section. The Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic

12  Development shall establish the initial effective date of the

13  enterprise zone designated pursuant to this section.

14         Section 14.  Enterprise zone designation for the City

15  of Pensacola.--The City of Pensacola may apply to the Office

16  of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development for designation of

17  one enterprise zone within the city, which zone encompasses an

18  area up to 10 contiguous square miles.  The application must

19  be submitted by December 31, 2002, and must comply with the

20  requirements of section 290.0055, Florida Statutes, except

21  subsection (3) thereof. Notwithstanding the provisions of

22  section 290.0065, Florida Statutes, limiting the total number

23  of enterprise zones designated and the number of enterprise

24  zones within a population category, the Office of Tourism,

25  Trade, and Economic Development may designate one enterprise

26  zone under this section. The Office of Tourism, Trade, and

27  Economic Development shall establish the initial effective

28  date of the enterprise zone designated pursuant to this

29  section.

30         Section 15.  Enterprise zone designation for Leon

31  County.--Leon County, or Leon County and the City of


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    CS for SB 1186                                 First Engrossed



  1  Tallahassee jointly, may apply to the Office of Tourism,

  2  Trade, and Economic Development for designation of one

  3  enterprise zone, the selected area of which shall not exceed

  4  20 square miles and shall have a continuous boundary, or

  5  consist of not more than three noncontiguous areas per section

  6  290.0055(4)(a), Florida Statutes.  The enterprise zone shall

  7  encompass an area or areas within the following Census tracts

  8  for Leon County pursuant to the 1990 Census:

  9

10  Census tract 1, block group 1;  census tract 2, block group 1;

11  census tract 2, block group 3;  census tract 2, block group 4;

12  census tract 3, block group 1; census tract 4, block group 1;

13  census tract 4, block group 2;  census tract 5, block group 1;

14  census tract 5, block group 2; census tract 6, block group 1;

15  census tract 6, block group 2; census tract 6, block group 3;

16  census tract 6, block group 4; census tract 7, block group 1;

17  census tract 7, block group 2; census tract 7, block group 3;

18  census tract 10.01, block group 1; census tract 10.01, block

19  group 2; census tract 10.01, block group 3; census tract

20  11.01, block group 1; census tract 11.01, block group 2;

21  census tract 11.01, block group 3; census tract 11.02, block

22  group 1; census tract 11.02, block group 3; census tract 12,

23  block group 1; census tract 13, block group 1; census tract

24  13, block group 2; census tract 14, block group 1; census

25  tract 14, block group 2; census tract 14, block group 3;

26  census tract 14, block group 4; census tract 14, block group

27  5; census tract 15, block group 1; census tract 16.01, block

28  group 1; census tract 18, block group 3; census tract 18,

29  block group 4; census tract 19, block group 1; census tract

30  19, block group 3; census tract 19, block group 4; census

31  tract 20.01, block group 1; census tract 20.01, block group 2;


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    CS for SB 1186                                 First Engrossed



  1  census tract 20.01, block group 3; census tract 20.01, block

  2  group 4; census tract 20.01, block group 5; census tract

  3  20.02, block group 1; census tract 20.02, block group 2;

  4  census tract 20.02, block group 3; census tract 20.02, block

  5  group 5; census tract 21, block group 1; census tract 21,

  6  block group 3; census tract 21, block group 4; census tract

  7  21, block group 5; census tract 21, block group 7; census

  8  tract 22.01, block group 1; census tract 23.01, block group 3;

  9  census tract 23.01, block group 5; census tract 26.02, block

10  group 4.

11

12  The application must be submitted by December 31, 2002, and

13  must comply with the requirements of section 290.0055, Florida

14  Statutes.  Notwithstanding the provisions of section 290.0065,

15  Florida Statutes, limiting the total number of enterprise

16  zones designated and the number of enterprise zones within a

17  population category, the Office of Tourism, Trade, and

18  Economic Development may designate one enterprise zone under

19  this section. The Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic

20  Development shall establish the initial effective date of the

21  enterprise zone designated pursuant to this section.

22         Section 16.  Effective upon this act becoming a law,

23  section 11.35, Florida Statutes, is created to read:

24         11.35  Joint Legislative Committee on Tax Exemptions;

25  membership; duties.--

26         (1)  The Joint Legislative Committee on Tax Exemptions

27  is created as a joint standing committee of the Legislature

28  composed of 12 members, 6 of whom are members of the Senate

29  appointed by the President of the Senate and 6 of whom are

30  members of the House of Representatives appointed by the

31  Speaker of the House of Representatives. The terms of members


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    CS for SB 1186                                 First Engrossed



  1  are 2 years and run from one organization session of the

  2  Legislature to the following organization session. In each

  3  even-numbered year, the President of the Senate shall appoint

  4  a member of the Senate to serve as chair for a term of 1 year;

  5  and, in each odd-numbered year, the Speaker of the House of

  6  Representatives shall appoint a member of the House of

  7  Representatives to serve as chair for a term of 1 year. A

  8  vacancy is to be filled for the unexpired portion of the term

  9  in the same manner as the original appointment.

10         (2)  The committee shall conduct a periodic review of

11  all exemptions from taxation under chapter 212, Florida

12  Statutes, except those specified in section 212.25(3), Florida

13  Statutes. The committee must complete the first of its reviews

14  by December 1, 2004, and its initial review of all exemptions

15  by December 1, 2009. For purposes of the review, the committee

16  shall:

17         (a)  Assign each exemption to a discrete category of

18  exemptions, placing, to the extent practicable, similar and

19  related exemptions within the same category. The committee

20  shall identify discrete classes of transactions exempted by s.

21  212.25(2) and assign the exemption of each class to the

22  appropriate category.

23         (b)  Schedule, for each year, one or more of the

24  categories to be reviewed before the following regular session

25  of the Legislature. Each category must be reviewed once by

26  December 1, 2009. By December 1, 2003, the committee shall

27  prepare, and submit to the President of the Senate and the

28  Speaker of the House of Representatives for introduction at

29  the 2004 regular session of the Legislature, a proposed bill

30  that amends the statutes to set the expiration date for each

31  exemption 18 months after the year in which it is scheduled


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    CS for SB 1186                                 First Engrossed



  1  for review. The proposed bill shall set July 1, 2006, as the

  2  expiration date for those exemptions which are scheduled to be

  3  reviewed by December 1, 2004.

  4         (c)  Adopt standards and criteria that it will use for

  5  its review of exemptions and upon which it will base its

  6  recommendation to reauthorize an exemption. In developing

  7  these standards and criteria, the committee should consider

  8  the following principles of taxation:

  9         1.  Equity.--The Florida tax system should treat

10  individuals equitably. It should impose similar tax burdens on

11  people in similar circumstances and should minimize

12  regressivity.

13         2.  Compliance.--The Florida tax system should

14  facilitate taxpayer compliance.  It should be simple and easy

15  to understand so as to minimize compliance costs and increase

16  the visibility and awareness of the taxes being paid.

17  Enforcement and collection of tax revenues should be done in a

18  fair, consistent, professional, predictable, and

19  cost-effective manner.

20         3.  Promotion of competition.--The Florida tax system

21  should be responsive to interstate and international

22  competition in order to encourage savings and investment in

23  plant, equipment, people, and technology.

24         4.  Neutrality.--The Florida tax system should affect

25  competitors uniformly and not become a tool for "social

26  engineering."  It should minimize government involvement in

27  investment decisions, making any such involvement explicit,

28  and should minimize pyramiding.

29         5.  Stability.--The Florida tax system should produce

30  revenues in a stable and reliable manner which are sufficient

31  to fund appropriate governmental functions and expenditures.


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    CS for SB 1186                                 First Engrossed



  1         6.  Integration.--The Florida tax system should balance

  2  the need for integration of federal, state, and local

  3  taxation.

  4         7.  Public purpose.--Any sales tax exemption should be

  5  based upon a determination that the exemption promotes an

  6  important state interest, including, but not limited to,

  7  economic development, job creation and retention, economic

  8  diversification, and community revitalization.

  9         (3)  By December 1 of each year, the committee shall

10  submit to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the

11  House of Representatives a separate report for each category

12  of exemptions reviewed during that year. Each report must

13  contain the committee's recommendations with respect to each

14  exemption assigned to that category and include, for

15  consideration at the next regular session of the Legislature,

16  a proposed bill to reauthorize, for a period not to exceed 10

17  years, those exemptions that the committee recommends be

18  reauthorized and to cleanse the statutes of those exemptions

19  that the committee recommends be allowed to expire. Each

20  report must also include, for each exemption for which the

21  committee makes no recommendation, a separate bill to

22  reauthorize that exemption for a period not to exceed 10

23  years. Each proposed bill must provide that each reauthorized

24  exemption expires on a specified date occurring no more than

25  10 years after the effective date of the bill and is to be

26  reviewed pursuant to this section at least 18 months prior to

27  its expiration.

28         Section 17.  Effective upon this act becoming a law,

29  section 212.25, Florida Statutes, is created to read:

30         212.25  Expiration and review of tax exemptions; status

31  of transactions neither expressly taxable nor exempt.--


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    CS for SB 1186                                 First Engrossed



  1         (1)  Effective July 1, 2011, and on July 1 of every

  2  10th year thereafter, each exemption from taxation under this

  3  chapter expires, except those specified in subsection (3) and

  4  those specifically set by law to expire on another date. Prior

  5  to its expiration, each such exemption shall be reviewed by

  6  the Joint Legislative Committee on Tax Exemptions in

  7  accordance with the law governing such reviews.

  8         (2)  Until July 1, 2011, any sale of goods or services

  9  that is neither expressly taxable nor expressly exempt from

10  taxation under this chapter is exempt from such taxation, and

11  the exemptions provided by this subsection are subject to

12  review under s. 11.35. Effective July 1, 2011, any sale of

13  goods or services that is neither expressly taxable nor

14  expressly exempt from taxation under this chapter is subject

15  to tax at the same rate as the general tax rate prescribed by

16  this chapter for the retail sale of items of tangible personal

17  property.

18         (3)  Notwithstanding the other provisions of this

19  section, the following transactions remain exempt from

20  taxation under this chapter and are not subject to expiration

21  or review under this section or s. 11.35: the sale of

22  groceries, prescription drugs, health services, real property,

23  intangible personal property, or communications services; the

24  sale of tangible personal property purchased for resale or

25  imported, produced, or manufactured in this state for export;

26  and the payment of residential rent or employee salaries or

27  benefits.

28         Section 18.  Except as otherwise provided in this act,

29  this act shall take effect upon becoming a law.

30

31


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