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



                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                                Bill No. CS/HB 243

    Amendment No. 1 (for drafter's use only)

                            CHAMBER ACTION
              Senate                               House
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  4  ______________________________________________________________

  5                                           ORIGINAL STAMP BELOW

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  9

10  ______________________________________________________________

11  Representative(s) Mack offered the following:

12

13         Amendment 

14  Remove everything after the enacting clause

15

16  and insert:

17         Section 1.  Subsections (3) and (4), paragraphs (a) and

18  (b) of subsection (5), paragraph (a) of subsection (6),

19  paragraphs (a), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), and (h) of subsection

20  (7), paragraph (a) of subsection (8), paragraphs (a) and (b)

21  of subsection (9), paragraph (f) of subsection (10), and

22  subsection (11) of section 288.99, Florida Statutes, are

23  amended, and paragraph (i) is added to subsection (7) of said

24  section, to read:

25         288.99  Certified Capital Company Act.--

26         (3)  DEFINITIONS.--As used in this section, the term:

27         (a)  "Affiliate of an insurance company" means:

28         1.  Any person directly or indirectly beneficially

29  owning, whether through rights, options, convertible

30  interests, or otherwise, controlling, or holding power to vote

31  15 10 percent or more of the outstanding voting securities or

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                                Bill No. CS/HB 243

    Amendment No. 1 (for drafter's use only)





  1  other voting ownership interests of the insurance company;

  2         2.  Any person 15 10 percent or more of whose

  3  outstanding voting securities or other voting ownership

  4  interest is directly or indirectly beneficially owned, whether

  5  through rights, options, convertible interests, or otherwise,

  6  controlled, or held with power to vote by the insurance

  7  company;

  8         3.  Any person directly or indirectly controlling,

  9  controlled by, or under common control with the insurance

10  company;

11         4.  A partnership in which the insurance company is a

12  general partner; or

13         5.  Any person who is a principal, director, employee,

14  or agent of the insurance company or an immediate family

15  member of the principal, director, employee, or agent.

16         (b)  "Certified capital" means an investment of cash by

17  a certified investor in a certified capital company which

18  fully funds the purchase price of either or both its equity

19  interest in the certified capital company or a qualified debt

20  instrument issued by the certified capital company.

21         (c)  "Certified capital company" means a corporation,

22  partnership, or limited liability company which:

23         1.  Is certified by the department in accordance with

24  this act.

25         2.  Receives investments of certified capital from two

26  or more unaffiliated certified investors.

27         3.  Makes qualified investments as its primary

28  activity.

29         (d)  "Certified investor" means any insurance company

30  subject to premium tax liability pursuant to s. 624.509 that

31  invests contributes certified capital.

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                                Bill No. CS/HB 243

    Amendment No. 1 (for drafter's use only)





  1         (e)  "Department" means the Department of Banking and

  2  Finance.

  3         (f)  "Director" means the director of the Office of

  4  Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development.

  5         (g)  "Early stage technology business" means a

  6  qualified business that is:

  7         1.  Involved, at the time of the certified capital

  8  company's initial investment in such business, in activities

  9  related to developing initial product or service offerings,

10  such as prototype development or the establishment of initial

11  production or service processes;. The term includes a

12  qualified business that is

13         2.  Less than 2 years old and has, together with its

14  affiliates, less than $3 million in annual revenues for the

15  fiscal year immediately preceding the initial investment by

16  the certified capital company on a consolidated basis, as

17  determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting

18  principles;. The term also includes

19         3.  The Florida Black Business Investment Board;,

20         4.  Any entity that is majority owned by the Florida

21  Black Business Investment Board;, or

22         5.  Any entity in which the Florida Black Business

23  Investment Board holds a majority voting interest on the board

24  of directors.

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

26  Economic Development.

27         (i)  "Premium tax liability" means any liability

28  incurred by an insurance company under the provisions of s.

29  624.509.

30         (j)  "Principal" means an executive officer of a

31  corporation, partner of a partnership, manager of a limited

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                                Bill No. CS/HB 243

    Amendment No. 1 (for drafter's use only)





  1  liability company, or any other person with equivalent

  2  executive functions.

  3         (k)  "Qualified business" means the Digital Divide

  4  Trust Fund established under the State of Florida Technology

  5  Office or a business that meets the following conditions as

  6  evidenced by documentation required by department rule:

  7         1.  The business is headquartered in this state and its

  8  principal business operations are located in this state.

  9         2.  At the time a certified capital company makes an

10  initial investment in a business, the business is a small

11  business concern as defined in 13 C.F.R. s. 121.301(c)

12  121.201, "Size Standards Used to Define Small Business

13  Concerns" of the United States Small Business Administration

14  which is involved in manufacturing, processing or assembling

15  products, conducting research and development, or providing

16  services.

17         3.  At the time a certified capital company makes an

18  initial investment in a business, the business certifies in an

19  affidavit that:

20         a.  The business is unable to obtain conventional

21  financing, which means that the business has failed in an

22  attempt to obtain funding for a loan from a bank or other

23  commercial lender or that the business cannot reasonably be

24  expected to qualify for such financing under the standards of

25  commercial lending;

26         b.  The business plan for the business projects that

27  the business is reasonably expected to achieve in excess of

28  $25 million in sales revenue within 5 years after the initial

29  investment, or the business is located in a designated Front

30  Porch community, enterprise zone, urban high crime area, rural

31  job tax credit county, or nationally recognized historic

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                                Bill No. CS/HB 243

    Amendment No. 1 (for drafter's use only)





  1  district;

  2         c.  The business will maintain its headquarters in this

  3  state for the next 10 years and any new manufacturing facility

  4  financed by a qualified investment will remain in this state

  5  for the next 10 years, or the business is located in a

  6  designated Front Porch community, enterprise zone, urban high

  7  crime area, rural job tax credit county, or nationally

  8  recognized historic district; and

  9         d.  The business has fewer than 200 employees and at

10  least 75 percent of the employees are employed in this state.

11  For purposes of this subsection, the term "qualified business"

12  also includes the Florida Black Business Investment Board, any

13  entity majority owned by the Florida Black Business Investment

14  Board, or any entity in which the Florida Black Business

15  Investment Board holds a majority voting interest on the board

16  of directors.

17         4.  The term does not include:

18         a.  Any business predominantly engaged in retail sales,

19  real estate development, insurance, banking, lending, or oil

20  and gas exploration.

21         b.  Any business predominantly engaged in professional

22  services provided by accountants, lawyers, or physicians.

23         c.  Any company that has no historical revenues and

24  either has no specific business plan or purpose or has

25  indicated that its business plan is solely to engage in a

26  merger or acquisition with any unidentified company or other

27  entity.

28         d.  Any company that has a strategic plan to grow

29  through the acquisition of firms with substantially similar

30  business which would result in the planned net loss of

31  Florida-based jobs over a 12-month period after the

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                                Bill No. CS/HB 243

    Amendment No. 1 (for drafter's use only)





  1  acquisition as determined by the department.

  2

  3  A business predominantly engaged in retail sales, real estate

  4  development, insurance, banking, lending, oil and gas

  5  exploration, or engaged in professional services provided by

  6  accountants, lawyers, or physicians does not constitute a

  7  qualified business.

  8         (l)  "Qualified debt instrument" means a debt

  9  instrument, or a hybrid of a debt instrument, issued by a

10  certified capital company, at par value or a premium, with an

11  original maturity date of at least 5 years after the date of

12  issuance, a repayment schedule which is no faster than a level

13  principal amortization over a 5-year period, and interest,

14  distribution, or payment features which are not related to the

15  profitability of the certified capital company or the

16  performance of the certified capital company's investment

17  portfolio.

18         (m)  "Qualified distribution" means any distribution or

19  payment by to equity holders of a certified capital company

20  for:

21         1.  Reasonable costs and expenses, including, but not

22  limited to, professional fees, of forming and, syndicating the

23  certified capital company, if no such costs or expenses are

24  paid to a certified investor, except as provided in

25  subparagraph (4)(f)2., and the total cash, cash equivalents,

26  and other current assets permitted by sub-subparagraph

27  (5)(b)3.g. that can be converted into cash within 5 business

28  days available to the certified capital company at the time of

29  receipt of certified capital from certified investors, after

30  deducting the costs and expenses of forming and syndicating

31  the certified capital company, including any payments made

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                                Bill No. CS/HB 243

    Amendment No. 1 (for drafter's use only)





  1  over time for obligations incurred at the time of receipt of

  2  certified capital but excluding other future qualified

  3  distributions and payments made under paragraph (9)(a), are an

  4  amount equal to or greater than 50 percent of the total

  5  certified capital allocated to the certified capital pursuant

  6  to subsection (7);,

  7         2.  Reasonable costs of managing, and operating the

  8  certified capital company, not exceeding 5 percent of the

  9  certified capital in any single year, including an annual

10  management fee in an amount that does not exceed 2.5 percent

11  of the certified capital of the certified capital company;,

12  plus

13         3.  Reasonable and necessary fees in accordance with

14  industry custom for professional services, including, but not

15  limited to, legal and accounting services, related to the

16  operation of the certified capital company; or.

17         4.2.  Any projected increase in federal or state taxes,

18  including penalties and interest related to state and federal

19  income taxes, of the equity owners of a certified capital

20  company resulting from the earnings or other tax liability of

21  the certified capital company to the extent that the increase

22  is related to the ownership, management, or operation of a

23  certified capital company.

24         (n)1.  "Qualified investment" means the investment of

25  cash by a certified capital company in a qualified business

26  for the purchase of any debt, equity, or hybrid security of

27  any nature and description whatsoever, including a debt

28  instrument or security that which has the characteristics of

29  debt but which provides for conversion into equity or equity

30  participation instruments such as options or warrants.

31         2.  The term does not include:

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                                Bill No. CS/HB 243

    Amendment No. 1 (for drafter's use only)





  1         a.  Any investment made after the effective date of

  2  this act the contractual terms of which require the repayment

  3  of any portion of the principal in instances, other than

  4  default as determined by department rule, within 12 months

  5  following the initial investment by the certified capital

  6  company unless such investment has a repayment schedule no

  7  faster than a level principal amortization of at least 2

  8  years;

  9         b.  Any "follow-on" or "add-on" investment except for

10  the amount by which the new investment is in addition to the

11  amount of the certified capital company's initial investment

12  returned to it other than in the form of interest, dividends,

13  or other types of profit participation or distributions; or

14         c.  Any investment in a qualified business or affiliate

15  of a qualified business that exceeds 15 percent of certified

16  capital.

17         (o)  "Program One" means the $150 million in premium

18  tax credits issued under this section in 1999, the allocation

19  of such credits under this section, and the regulation of

20  certified capital companies and investments made by them

21  hereunder.

22         (p)  "Program Two" means the $150 million in premium

23  tax credits to be issued under this section on April 1, 2003,

24  the allocation of such credits under this section, and the

25  regulation of certified capital companies and investments made

26  by them hereunder.

27         (4)  CERTIFICATION; GROUNDS FOR DENIAL OR

28  DECERTIFICATION.--

29         (a)  To operate as a certified capital company, a

30  corporation, partnership, or limited liability company must be

31  certified by the department pursuant to this act.

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                                Bill No. CS/HB 243

    Amendment No. 1 (for drafter's use only)





  1         (b)  An applicant for certification as a certified

  2  capital company must file a verified application with the

  3  department on or before December 1, 1998, or November 1, 2002,

  4  in the case of applicants for Program Two, in a form which the

  5  department may prescribe by rule.  The applicant shall submit

  6  a nonrefundable application fee of $7,500 to the department.

  7  The applicant shall provide:

  8         1.  The name of the applicant and the address of its

  9  principal office and each office in this state.

10         2.  The applicant's form and place of organization and

11  the relevant organizational documents, bylaws, and amendments

12  or restatements of such documents, bylaws, or amendments.

13         3.  Evidence from the Department of State that the

14  applicant is registered with the Department of State as

15  required by law, maintains an active status with the

16  Department of State, and has not been dissolved or had its

17  registration revoked, canceled, or withdrawn.

18         4.  The applicant's proposed method of doing business.

19         5.  The applicant's financial condition and history,

20  including an audit report on the financial statements prepared

21  in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

22  The applicant must have, at the time of application for

23  certification, an equity capitalization of at least $500,000

24  in the form of cash or cash equivalents.  The applicant must

25  maintain this equity capitalization until the applicant

26  receives an allocation of certified capital pursuant to this

27  act showing net capital of not less than $500,000 within 90

28  days after the date the application is submitted to the

29  department. If the date of the application is more than 90

30  days after preparation of the applicant's fiscal year-end

31  financial statements, the applicant may file financial

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                                Bill No. CS/HB 243

    Amendment No. 1 (for drafter's use only)





  1  statements reviewed by an independent certified public

  2  accountant for the period subsequent to the audit report,

  3  together with the audited financial statement for the most

  4  recent fiscal year.  If the applicant has been in business

  5  less than 12 months, and has not prepared an audited financial

  6  statement, the applicant may file a financial statement

  7  reviewed by an independent certified public accountant.

  8         6.  Copies of any offering materials used or proposed

  9  to be used by the applicant in soliciting investments of

10  certified capital from certified investors.

11         (c)  On December 31, 1998, or December 31, 2002, in the

12  case of applicants for Program Two, the department shall grant

13  or deny certification as a certified capital company.  If the

14  department denies certification within the time period

15  specified, the department shall inform the applicant of the

16  grounds for the denial.  If the department has not granted or

17  denied certification within the time specified, the

18  application shall be deemed approved.  The department shall

19  approve the application if the department finds that:

20         1.  The applicant satisfies the requirements of

21  paragraph (b).

22         2.  No evidence exists that the applicant has committed

23  any act specified in paragraph (d).

24         3.  At least two of the principals have a minimum of 5

25  years of experience making venture capital investments out of

26  private equity funds, with not less than $20 million being

27  provided by third-party investors for investment in the early

28  stage of operating businesses. At least one full-time manager

29  or principal of the certified capital company who has such

30  experience must be primarily located in an office of the

31  certified capital company which is based in this state.

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                                Bill No. CS/HB 243

    Amendment No. 1 (for drafter's use only)





  1         4.  The applicant's proposed method of doing business

  2  and raising certified capital as described in its offering

  3  materials and other materials submitted to the department

  4  conforms with the requirements of this section.

  5         (d)  The department may deny certification or decertify

  6  a certified capital company if the grounds for decertification

  7  are not removed or corrected within 90 days after the notice

  8  of such grounds is received by the certified capital company.

  9  The department may deny certification or decertify a certified

10  capital company if the certified capital company fails to

11  maintain common stock or paid in capital a net worth of at

12  least $500,000, or if the department determines that the

13  applicant, or any principal or director of the certified

14  capital company, has:

15         1.  Violated any provision of this section;

16         2.  Made a material misrepresentation or false

17  statement or concealed any essential or material fact from any

18  person during the application process or with respect to

19  information and reports required of certified capital

20  companies under this section;

21         3.  Been convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty or

22  nolo contendere to, a crime against the laws of this state or

23  any other state or of the United States or any other country

24  or government, including a fraudulent act in connection with

25  the operation of a certified capital company, or in connection

26  with the performance of fiduciary duties in another capacity;

27         4.  Been adjudicated liable in a civil action on

28  grounds of fraud, embezzlement, misrepresentation, or deceit;

29  or

30         5.a.  Been the subject of any decision, finding,

31  injunction, suspension, prohibition, revocation, denial,

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                                Bill No. CS/HB 243

    Amendment No. 1 (for drafter's use only)





  1  judgment, or administrative order by any court of competent

  2  jurisdiction, administrative law judge, or any state or

  3  federal agency, national securities, commodities, or option

  4  exchange, or national securities, commodities, or option

  5  association, involving a material violation of any federal or

  6  state securities or commodities law or any rule or regulation

  7  adopted under such law, or any rule or regulation of any

  8  national securities, commodities, or options exchange, or

  9  national securities, commodities, or options association; or

10         b.  Been the subject of any injunction or adverse

11  administrative order by a state or federal agency regulating

12  banking, insurance, finance or small loan companies, real

13  estate, mortgage brokers, or other related or similar

14  industries.

15         (e)  The certified capital company shall file a copy of

16  its certification with the office by January 31, 1999.

17         (e)(f)  Any offering material involving the sale of

18  securities of the certified capital company shall include the

19  following statement:  "By authorizing the formation of a

20  certified capital company, the State of Florida does not

21  endorse the quality of management or the potential for

22  earnings of such company and is not liable for damages or

23  losses to a certified investor in the company.  Use of the

24  word 'certified' in an offering does not constitute a

25  recommendation or endorsement of the investment by the State

26  of Florida.  Investments in a certified capital company prior

27  to the time such company is certified are not eligible for

28  premium tax credits.  If applicable provisions of law are

29  violated, the state may require forfeiture of unused premium

30  tax credits and repayment of used premium tax credits by the

31  certified investor."

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                                Bill No. CS/HB 243

    Amendment No. 1 (for drafter's use only)





  1         (f)1.(g)  No insurance company or any affiliate of an

  2  insurance company shall, directly or indirectly, own, whether

  3  through rights, options, convertible interests, or otherwise,

  4  15 percent or more of the voting equity interests of or manage

  5  or control the direction of investments of a certified capital

  6  company.  This prohibition does not preclude a certified

  7  investor, insurance company, or any other party from

  8  exercising its legal rights and remedies, which may include

  9  interim management of a certified capital company, if a

10  certified capital company is in default of its obligations

11  under law or its contractual obligations to such certified

12  investor, insurance company, or other party. Nothing in this

13  subparagraph shall limit an insurance company's ownership of

14  nonvoting equity interests in a certified capital company.

15         2.  A certified capital company may obtain a guaranty,

16  indemnity, bond, insurance policy or other payment undertaking

17  in favor of all of the certified investors of the certified

18  capital company and its affiliates; provided that the entity

19  from which such guaranty, indemnity, bond, insurance policy or

20  other payment undertaking is obtained may not be a certified

21  investor of, or be affiliated with more than one certified

22  investor of, the certified capital company.

23         (g)(h)  On or before December 31 of each year, each

24  certified capital company shall pay to the department an

25  annual, nonrefundable renewal certification fee of $5,000. If

26  a certified capital company fails to pay its renewal fee by

27  the specified deadline, the company must pay a late fee of

28  $5,000 in addition to the renewal fee on or by January 31 of

29  each year in order to continue its certification in the

30  program. On or before April 30 of each year, each certified

31  capital company shall file audited financial statements with

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                                Bill No. CS/HB 243

    Amendment No. 1 (for drafter's use only)





  1  the department.  No renewal fees shall be required within 6

  2  months after the date of initial certification.

  3         (h)(i)  The department shall administer and provide for

  4  the enforcement of certification requirements for certified

  5  capital companies as provided in this act.  The department may

  6  adopt any rules necessary to carry out its duties,

  7  obligations, and powers related to certification, renewal of

  8  certification, or decertification of certified capital

  9  companies and may perform any other acts necessary for the

10  proper administration and enforcement of such duties,

11  obligations, and powers.

12         (i)(j)  Decertification of a certified capital company

13  under this subsection does not affect the ability of certified

14  investors in such certified capital company from claiming

15  future premium tax credits earned as a result of an investment

16  in the certified capital company during the period in which it

17  was duly certified.

18         (5)  INVESTMENTS BY CERTIFIED CAPITAL COMPANIES.--

19         (a)  To remain certified, a certified capital company

20  must make qualified investments according to the following

21  schedule:

22         1.  At least 20 percent of its certified capital must

23  be invested in qualified investments by December 31, 2000, or

24  in the case of certified capital raised under Program Two, by

25  December 31, 2004.

26         2.  At least 30 percent of its certified capital must

27  be invested in qualified investments by December 31, 2001, or

28  in the case of certified capital raised under Program Two, by

29  December 31, 2005.

30         3.  At least 40 percent of its certified capital must

31  be invested in qualified investments by December 31, 2002, or

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                                Bill No. CS/HB 243

    Amendment No. 1 (for drafter's use only)





  1  in the case of certified capital raised under Program Two, by

  2  December 31, 2006.

  3         4.  At least 50 percent of its certified capital must

  4  be invested in qualified investments by December 31, 2003, or

  5  in the case of certified capital raised under Program Two, by

  6  December 31, 2007. At least 50 percent of such qualified

  7  investments must be invested in early stage technology

  8  businesses.

  9         (b)  All capital not invested in qualified investments

10  by the certified capital company:

11         1.  Must be held in a financial institution as defined

12  by s. 655.005(1)(h) or held by a broker-dealer registered

13  under s. 517.12, except as set forth in sub-subparagraph 3.g.

14         2.  Must not be invested in a certified investor of the

15  certified capital company or any affiliate of the certified

16  investor of the certified capital company, except for an

17  investment permitted by sub-subparagraph 3.g., provided

18  repayment terms do not permit the obligor to directly or

19  indirectly manage or control the investment decisions of the

20  certified capital company.

21         3.  Must be invested only in:

22         a.  Any United States Treasury obligations;

23         b.  Certificates of deposit or other obligations,

24  maturing within 3 years after acquisition of such certificates

25  or obligations, issued by any financial institution or trust

26  company incorporated under the laws of the United States;

27         c.  Marketable obligations, maturing within 10 5 years

28  or less after the acquisition of such obligations, which are

29  rated "A" or better by any nationally recognized credit rating

30  agency;

31         d.  Mortgage-backed securities, with an average life of

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                                Bill No. CS/HB 243

    Amendment No. 1 (for drafter's use only)





  1  5 years or less, after the acquisition of such securities,

  2  which are rated "A" or better by any nationally recognized

  3  credit rating agency;

  4         e.  Collateralized mortgage obligations and real estate

  5  mortgage investment conduits that are direct obligations of an

  6  agency of the United States Government; are not private-label

  7  issues; are in book-entry form; and do not include the classes

  8  of interest only, principal only, residual, or zero; or

  9         f.  Interests in money market funds, the portfolio of

10  which is limited to cash and obligations described in

11  sub-subparagraphs a.-d.; or

12         g.  Obligations that are issued by an insurance company

13  that is not a certified investor of the certified capital

14  company making the investment, that has provided a guarantee

15  indemnity bond, insurance policy, or other payment undertaking

16  in favor of the certified capital company's certified

17  investors as permitted by subparagraph (3)(m)1. or an

18  affiliate of such insurance company as defined by subparagraph

19  (3)(a)3. that is not a certified investor of the certified

20  capital company making the investment, provided that such

21  obligations are:

22         (I)  Issued or guaranteed as to principal by an entity

23  whose senior debt is rated "AA" or better by Standard & Poor's

24  Ratings Group or such other nationally recognized credit

25  rating agency as the department may by rule determine.

26         (II)  Not subordinated to other unsecured indebtedness

27  of the issuer or the guarantor.

28         (III)  Invested by such issuing entity in accordance

29  with sub-subparagraphs 3.a.-f.

30         (IV)  Readily convertible into cash within 5 business

31  days for the purpose of making a qualified investment unless

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

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  1  such obligations are held to provide a guarantee, indemnity

  2  bond, insurance policy, or other payment undertaking in favor

  3  of the certified capital company's certified investors as

  4  permitted by subparagraph (3)(m)1.

  5         (6)  PREMIUM TAX CREDIT; AMOUNT; LIMITATIONS.--

  6         (a)  Any certified investor who makes an investment of

  7  certified capital shall earn a vested credit against premium

  8  tax liability equal to 100 percent of the certified capital

  9  invested by the certified investor. Certified investors shall

10  be entitled to use no more than 10 percentage points of the

11  vested premium tax credit earned under a particular program,

12  including any carryforward credits from such program under

13  this act, per year beginning with premium tax filings for

14  calendar year 2000 for credits earned under Program One and

15  calendar year 2004 for credits earned under Program Two. Any

16  premium tax credits not used by certified investors in any

17  single year may be carried forward and applied against the

18  premium tax liabilities of such investors for subsequent

19  calendar years.  The carryforward credit may be applied

20  against subsequent premium tax filings through calendar year

21  2017.

22         (7)  ANNUAL TAX CREDIT; MAXIMUM AMOUNT; ALLOCATION

23  PROCESS.--

24         (a)  The total amount of tax credits which may be

25  allocated by the office shall not exceed $150 million with

26  respect to Program One and $150 with respect to Program Two.

27  The total amount of tax credits which may be used by certified

28  investors under this act shall not exceed $15 million annually

29  with respect to credits earned under Program One and $15

30  million annually with respect to credits earned under Program

31  Two.

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                                Bill No. CS/HB 243

    Amendment No. 1 (for drafter's use only)





  1         (c)  Each certified capital company must apply to the

  2  office for an allocation of premium tax credits for potential

  3  certified investors by March 15, 1999, or by March 15, 2003,

  4  in the case of credits allocable under Program Two, on a form

  5  developed by the office with the cooperation of the Department

  6  of Revenue.  The form shall be accompanied by an affidavit

  7  from each potential certified investor confirming that the

  8  potential certified investor has agreed to make an investment

  9  of certified capital in a certified capital company up to a

10  specified amount, subject only to the receipt of a premium tax

11  credit allocation pursuant to this subsection. No certified

12  capital company shall submit premium tax allocation claims on

13  behalf of certified investors that in the aggregate would

14  exceed the total dollar amount appropriated by the Legislature

15  for the specific program. No allocation shall be made to the

16  potential investors of a certified capital company under

17  Program Two unless such certified capital company has filed

18  premium tax allocation claims that would result in an

19  allocation to the potential investors in such certified

20  capital company of not less than $15 million in the aggregate.

21         (d)  On or before April 1, 1999, or April 1, 2003, in

22  the case of Program Two, the office shall inform each

23  certified capital company of its share of total premium tax

24  credits available for allocation to each of its potential

25  investors.

26         (e)  If a certified capital company does not receive

27  certified capital equaling the amount of premium tax credits

28  allocated to a potential certified investor for which the

29  investor filed a premium tax allocation claim within 10

30  business days after the investor received a notice of

31  allocation, the certified capital company shall notify the

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                                Bill No. CS/HB 243

    Amendment No. 1 (for drafter's use only)





  1  office by overnight common carrier delivery service of the

  2  company's failure to receive the capital.  That portion of the

  3  premium tax credits allocated to the certified capital company

  4  shall be forfeited. If the office must make a pro rata

  5  allocation under paragraph (f), the office shall reallocate

  6  such available credits among the other certified capital

  7  companies on the same pro rata basis as the initial

  8  allocation.

  9         (f)  If the total amount of capital committed by all

10  certified investors to certified capital companies in premium

11  tax allocation claims under Program Two exceeds the aggregate

12  cap on the amount of credits that may be awarded under Program

13  Two, the premium tax credits that may be allowed to any one

14  certified investor under Program Two shall be allocated using

15  the following ratio:

16

17                      A/B = X/>$150,000,000

18

19  where the letter "A" represents the total amount of certified

20  capital certified investors have agreed to invest in any one

21  certified capital company under Program Two, the letter "B"

22  represents the aggregate amount of certified capital that all

23  certified investors have agreed to invest in all certified

24  capital companies under Program Two, the letter "X" is the

25  numerator and represents the total amount of premium tax

26  credits and certified capital that may be allocated to a

27  certified capital company on April 1, 2003 in calendar year

28  1999, and $150 million is the denominator and represents the

29  total amount of premium tax credits and certified capital that

30  may be allocated to all certified investors in calendar year

31  2003 1999. Any such premium tax credits are not first

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                                Bill No. CS/HB 243

    Amendment No. 1 (for drafter's use only)





  1  available for utilization until annual filings are made in

  2  2001 for calendar year 2000 in the case of Program One, and

  3  until annual filings are made in 2005 for calendar year 2004

  4  in the case of Program Two, and the tax credits may be used at

  5  a rate not to exceed 10 percent annually per program.

  6         (g)  The maximum amount of certified capital for which

  7  premium tax allocation claims may be filed on behalf of any

  8  certified investor and its affiliates by one or more certified

  9  capital companies may not exceed $15 million for Program One

10  and $22.5 million for Program Two.

11         (h)  To the extent that less than $150 million in

12  certified capital is raised in connection with the procedure

13  set forth in paragraphs (c)-(g), the department may adopt

14  rules to allow a subsequent allocation of the remaining

15  premium tax credits authorized under this section.

16         (i)  The office shall issue a certification letter for

17  each certified investor, showing the amount invested in the

18  certified capital company under each program.  The applicable

19  certified capital company shall attest to the validity of the

20  certification letter.

21         (8)  ANNUAL TAX CREDIT; CLAIM PROCESS.--

22         (a)  On an annual basis, on or before January December

23  31, each certified capital company shall file with the

24  department and the office, in consultation with the

25  department, on a form prescribed by the office, for each

26  calendar year:

27         1.  The total dollar amount the certified capital

28  company received from certified investors, the identity of the

29  certified investors, and the amount received from each

30  certified investor during the immediately preceding calendar

31  year.

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                                Bill No. CS/HB 243

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  1         2.  The total dollar amount the certified capital

  2  company invested and the amount invested in qualified

  3  businesses, together with the identity and location of those

  4  businesses and the amount invested in each qualified business

  5  during the immediately preceding calendar year.

  6         3.  For informational purposes only, the total number

  7  of permanent, full-time jobs either created or retained by the

  8  qualified business during the immediately preceding calendar

  9  year, the average wage of the jobs created or retained, the

10  industry sectors in which the qualified businesses operate,

11  and any additional capital invested in qualified businesses

12  from sources other than certified capital companies.

13         (9)  REQUIREMENT FOR 100 PERCENT INVESTMENT; STATE

14  PARTICIPATION.--

15         (a)  A certified capital company may make qualified

16  distributions at any time. In order to make a distribution to

17  its equity holders, other than a qualified distribution from

18  funds related to a particular program, a certified capital

19  company must have invested an amount cumulatively equal to 100

20  percent of its certified capital raised under such program in

21  qualified investments. Payments to debt holders of a certified

22  capital company, however, may be made without restriction with

23  respect to repayments of principal and interest on

24  indebtedness owed to them by a certified capital company,

25  including indebtedness of the certified capital company on

26  which certified investors earned premium tax credits. A debt

27  holder that is also a certified investor or equity holder of a

28  certified capital company may receive payments with respect to

29  such debt without restrictions.

30         (b)  Cumulative distributions from a certified capital

31  company from funds related to a particular program to its

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                                Bill No. CS/HB 243

    Amendment No. 1 (for drafter's use only)





  1  certified investors and equity holders under such program,

  2  other than qualified distributions, in excess of the certified

  3  capital company's original certified capital raised under such

  4  program and any additional capital contributions to the

  5  certified capital company with respect to such program may be

  6  audited by a nationally recognized certified public accounting

  7  firm acceptable to the department, at the expense of the

  8  certified capital company, if the department directs such

  9  audit be conducted. The audit shall determine whether

10  aggregate cumulative distributions from the funds related to a

11  particular program made by the certified capital company to

12  all certified investors and equity holders under such program,

13  other than qualified distributions, have equaled the sum of

14  the certified capital company's original certified capital

15  raised under such program and any additional capital

16  contributions to the certified capital company with respect to

17  such program.  If at the time of any such distribution made by

18  the certified capital company, such distribution taken

19  together with all other such distributions from the funds

20  related to such program made by the certified capital company,

21  other than qualified distributions, exceeds in the aggregate

22  the sum of the certified capital company's original certified

23  capital raised under such program and any additional capital

24  contributions to the certified capital company with respect to

25  such program, as determined by the audit, the certified

26  capital company shall pay to the Department of Revenue 10

27  percent of the portion of such distribution in excess of such

28  amount. Payments to the Department of Revenue by a certified

29  capital company pursuant to this paragraph shall not exceed

30  the aggregate amount of tax credits used by all certified

31  investors in such certified capital company for such program.

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                                Bill No. CS/HB 243

    Amendment No. 1 (for drafter's use only)





  1         (10)  DECERTIFICATION.--

  2         (f)  Decertification of a certified capital company for

  3  failure to meet all requirements for continued certification

  4  under paragraph (5)(a) with respect to the certified capital

  5  raised under a particular program may cause the recapture of

  6  premium tax credits previously claimed by such company under

  7  such program and the forfeiture of future premium tax credits

  8  to be claimed by certified investors under such program with

  9  respect to such certified capital company, as follows:

10         1.  Decertification of a certified capital company

11  within 3 years after its certification date with respect to a

12  particular program shall cause the recapture of all premium

13  tax credits earned under such program and previously claimed

14  by such company and the forfeiture of all future premium tax

15  credits earned under such program which are to be claimed by

16  certified investors with respect to such company.

17         2.  When a certified capital company meets all

18  requirements for continued certification under subparagraph

19  (5)(a)1. with respect to certified capital raised under a

20  particular program and subsequently fails to meet the

21  requirements for continued certification under the provisions

22  of subparagraph (5)(a)2. with respect to certified capital

23  raised under such program, those premium tax credits earned

24  under such program which have been or will be taken by

25  certified investors within 3 years after the certification

26  date of the certified capital company with respect to such

27  program shall not be subject to recapture or forfeiture;

28  however, all premium tax credits earned under such program

29  that have been or will be taken by certified investors after

30  the third anniversary of the certification date of the

31  certified capital company for such program shall be subject to

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                                Bill No. CS/HB 243

    Amendment No. 1 (for drafter's use only)





  1  recapture or forfeiture.

  2         3.  When a certified capital company meets all

  3  requirements for continued certification under subparagraphs

  4  (5)(a)1. and 2. with respect to a particular program and

  5  subsequently fails to meet the requirements for continued

  6  certification under the subparagraph (5)(a)3. with respect to

  7  such program, those premium tax credits earned under such

  8  program which have been or will be taken by certified

  9  investors within 4 years after the certification date of the

10  certified capital company with respect to such program shall

11  not be subject to recapture or forfeiture; however, all

12  premium tax credits earned under such program that have been

13  or will be taken by certified investors after the fourth

14  anniversary of the certification date of the certified capital

15  company with respect to such program shall be subject to

16  recapture and forfeiture.

17         4.  If a certified capital company has met all

18  requirements for continued certification under paragraph

19  (5)(a) with respect to certified capital raised under a

20  particular program, but such company is subsequently

21  decertified, those premium tax credits earned under such

22  program which have been or will be taken by certified

23  investors within 5 years after the certification date of such

24  company with respect to such program shall not be subject to

25  recapture or forfeiture. Those premium tax credits earned

26  under such program to be taken subsequent to the 5th year of

27  certification with respect to such program shall be subject to

28  forfeiture only if the certified capital company is

29  decertified within 5 years after its certification date with

30  respect to such program.

31         5.  If a certified capital company has invested an

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                                Bill No. CS/HB 243

    Amendment No. 1 (for drafter's use only)





  1  amount cumulatively equal to 100 percent of its certified

  2  capital raised under a particular program in qualified

  3  investments, all premium tax credits claimed or to be claimed

  4  by its certified investors under such program shall not be

  5  subject to recapture or forfeiture.

  6         (11)  TRANSFERABILITY.--The premium tax credit

  7  established pursuant to this act may be transferred or sold.

  8  The Department of Revenue shall adopt rules to facilitate the

  9  transfer or sale of such premium tax credits.  A transfer or

10  sale shall not affect the time schedule for taking the premium

11  tax credit as provided in this act.  Any premium tax credits

12  recaptured shall be the liability of the taxpayer who actually

13  claimed the premium tax credits.  The claim of a transferee of

14  a certified investor's unused premium tax credit shall be

15  permitted in the same manner and subject to the same

16  provisions and limitations of this act as the original

17  certified investor.  The term "transferee" means any person

18  who:

19         (a)  Through the voluntary sale, assignment, or other

20  transfer of the business or control of the business of the

21  certified investor, including the sale or other transfer of

22  stock or assets by merger, consolidation, or dissolution,

23  succeeds to all or substantially all of the business and

24  property of the certified investor;

25         (b)  Becomes by operation of law or otherwise the

26  parent company of the certified investor;

27         (c)  Directly or indirectly owns, whether through

28  rights, options, convertible interests, or otherwise,

29  controls, or holds power to vote 10 percent or more of the

30  outstanding voting securities or other ownership interest of

31  the certified investor;

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                                Bill No. CS/HB 243

    Amendment No. 1 (for drafter's use only)





  1         (d)  Is a subsidiary of the certified investor or 10

  2  percent or more of whose outstanding voting securities or

  3  other ownership interest are directly or indirectly owned,

  4  whether through rights, options, convertible interests, or

  5  otherwise, by the certified investor; or

  6         (e)  Directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by,

  7  or is under the common control with the certified investor.

  8         Section 2.  Except as otherwise specifically provided

  9  in this act, the provisions of this act shall apply only to

10  "Program Two" as defined in s. 288.99(3), Florida Statutes, as

11  amended by this act.

12         Section 3.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2002.

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

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30

31

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