House Bill hb0403

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    Florida House of Representatives - 2002                 HB 403

        By Representative Barreiro






  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to commercial development and

  3         capital improvements; amending s. 212.20, F.S.;

  4         providing for distribution of a portion of

  5         revenues from the tax on sales, use, and other

  6         transactions to a motorsports entertainment

  7         complex; creating s. 288.1170, F.S.; providing

  8         definitions; providing for certification of

  9         such facility by the Office of Tourism, Trade,

10         and Economic Development of the Executive

11         Office of the Governor; providing requirements

12         for certification; requiring specified notice;

13         providing for annual recertification; providing

14         for a reduction of funding under certain

15         circumstances; providing for use of the funds

16         distributed to a motorsports entertainment

17         complex; providing for audits by the Department

18         of Revenue; providing an effective date.

19

20         WHEREAS, it is the finding of the Legislature that

21  Florida has long been the preeminent site in the nation for

22  motorsports racing, and

23         WHEREAS, motorsports racing has been a major tourist

24  attraction in Florida for nearly 100 years, and

25         WHEREAS, motorsports entertainment is the fastest

26  growing sports industry in the United States, and

27         WHEREAS, as a result of the increased popularity of

28  motorsports racing, many new motorsports facilities are being

29  constructed in other states, and

30         WHEREAS, to continue to attract spectators to

31  sanctioned championship motorsports events, the owner or

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  1  operator of a motorsports entertainment complex must build

  2  additional spectator seating and renovate existing facilities

  3  to improve the amenities available to spectators, and

  4         WHEREAS, attracting, retaining, and providing favorable

  5  conditions for conducting sanctioned championship motorsports

  6  events and the continued development of the motorsports

  7  entertainment industry in Florida provides skilled-employment

  8  opportunities for citizens of this state, and

  9         WHEREAS, continued development and improvement of

10  Florida's motorsports entertainment industry is vital to

11  Florida's tourism industry and to state revenues, and

12         WHEREAS, the motorsports entertainment industry is a

13  major contributor to Florida's economic development because of

14  the technology and service businesses that provide goods and

15  services to the industry, and

16         WHEREAS, the provisions of this act are necessary to

17  protect and strengthen Florida's motorsports entertainment

18  industry, and the purposes to be achieved by this act are

19  predominately public purposes vital to the protection and

20  improvement of Florida's economy, NOW, THEREFORE,

21

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

23

24         Section 1.  Paragraph (d) of subsection (6) of section

25  212.20, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

26         212.20  Funds collected, disposition; additional powers

27  of department; operational expense; refund of taxes

28  adjudicated unconstitutionally collected.--

29         (6)  Distribution of all proceeds under this chapter

30  and s. 202.18(1)(b) and (2)(b) shall be as follows:

31

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  1         (d)  The proceeds of all other taxes and fees imposed

  2  pursuant to this chapter or remitted pursuant to s.

  3  202.18(1)(b) and (2)(b) shall be distributed as follows:

  4         1.  In any fiscal year, the greater of $500 million,

  5  minus an amount equal to 4.6 percent of the proceeds of the

  6  taxes collected pursuant to chapter 201, or 5 percent of all

  7  other taxes and fees imposed pursuant to this chapter or

  8  remitted pursuant to s. 202.18(1)(b) and (2)(b) shall be

  9  deposited in monthly installments into the General Revenue

10  Fund.

11         2.  Two-tenths of one percent shall be transferred to

12  the Solid Waste Management Trust Fund.

13         3.  After the distribution under subparagraphs 1. and

14  2., 9.653 percent of the amount remitted by a sales tax dealer

15  located within a participating county pursuant to s. 218.61

16  shall be transferred into the Local Government Half-cent Sales

17  Tax Clearing Trust Fund.

18         4.  After the distribution under subparagraphs 1., 2.,

19  and 3., 0.065 percent shall be transferred to the Local

20  Government Half-cent Sales Tax Clearing Trust Fund and

21  distributed pursuant to s. 218.65.

22         5.  For proceeds received after July 1, 2000, and after

23  the distributions under subparagraphs 1., 2., 3., and 4., 2.25

24  percent of the available proceeds pursuant to this paragraph

25  shall be transferred monthly to the Revenue Sharing Trust Fund

26  for Counties pursuant to s. 218.215.

27         6.  For proceeds received after July 1, 2000, and after

28  the distributions under subparagraphs 1., 2., 3., and 4.,

29  1.0715 percent of the available proceeds pursuant to this

30  paragraph shall be transferred monthly to the Revenue Sharing

31  Trust Fund for Municipalities pursuant to s. 218.215. If the

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  1  total revenue to be distributed pursuant to this subparagraph

  2  is at least as great as the amount due from the Revenue

  3  Sharing Trust Fund for Municipalities and the Municipal

  4  Financial Assistance Trust Fund in state fiscal year

  5  1999-2000, no municipality shall receive less than the amount

  6  due from the Revenue Sharing Trust Fund for Municipalities and

  7  the Municipal Financial Assistance Trust Fund in state fiscal

  8  year 1999-2000. If the total proceeds to be distributed are

  9  less than the amount received in combination from the Revenue

10  Sharing Trust Fund for Municipalities and the Municipal

11  Financial Assistance Trust Fund in state fiscal year

12  1999-2000, each municipality shall receive an amount

13  proportionate to the amount it was due in state fiscal year

14  1999-2000.

15         7.  Of the remaining proceeds:

16         a.  Beginning July 1, 2000, and in each fiscal year

17  thereafter, the sum of $29,915,500 shall be divided into as

18  many equal parts as there are counties in the state, and one

19  part shall be distributed to each county.  The distribution

20  among the several counties shall begin each fiscal year on or

21  before January 5th and shall continue monthly for a total of 4

22  months.  If a local or special law required that any moneys

23  accruing to a county in fiscal year 1999-2000 under the

24  then-existing provisions of s. 550.135 be paid directly to the

25  district school board, special district, or a municipal

26  government, such payment shall continue until such time that

27  the local or special law is amended or repealed.  The state

28  covenants with holders of bonds or other instruments of

29  indebtedness issued by local governments, special districts,

30  or district school boards prior to July 1, 2000, that it is

31  not the intent of this subparagraph to adversely affect the

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  1  rights of those holders or relieve local governments, special

  2  districts, or district school boards of the duty to meet their

  3  obligations as a result of previous pledges or assignments or

  4  trusts entered into which obligated funds received from the

  5  distribution to county governments under then-existing s.

  6  550.135.  This distribution specifically is in lieu of funds

  7  distributed under s. 550.135 prior to July 1, 2000.

  8         b.  The department shall distribute $166,667 monthly

  9  pursuant to s. 288.1162 to each applicant that has been

10  certified as a "facility for a new professional sports

11  franchise" or a "facility for a retained professional sports

12  franchise" pursuant to s. 288.1162. Up to $41,667 shall be

13  distributed monthly by the department to each applicant that

14  has been certified as a "facility for a retained spring

15  training franchise" pursuant to s. 288.1162; however, not more

16  than $208,335 may be distributed monthly in the aggregate to

17  all certified facilities for a retained spring training

18  franchise. Distributions shall begin 60 days following such

19  certification and shall continue for not more than 30 years.

20  Nothing contained in this paragraph shall be construed to

21  allow an applicant certified pursuant to s. 288.1162 to

22  receive more in distributions than actually expended by the

23  applicant for the public purposes provided for in s.

24  288.1162(6). However, a certified applicant is entitled to

25  receive distributions up to the maximum amount allowable and

26  undistributed under this section for additional renovations

27  and improvements to the facility for the franchise without

28  additional certification.

29         c.  Beginning 30 days after notice by the Office of

30  Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development to the Department of

31  Revenue that an applicant has been certified as the

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  1  professional golf hall of fame pursuant to s. 288.1168 and is

  2  open to the public, $166,667 shall be distributed monthly, for

  3  up to 300 months, to the applicant.

  4         d.  Beginning 30 days after notice by the Office of

  5  Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development to the Department of

  6  Revenue that the applicant has been certified as the

  7  International Game Fish Association World Center facility

  8  pursuant to s. 288.1169, and the facility is open to the

  9  public, $83,333 shall be distributed monthly, for up to 168

10  months, to the applicant. This distribution is subject to

11  reduction pursuant to s. 288.1169.  A lump sum payment of

12  $999,996 shall be made, after certification and before July 1,

13  2000.

14         e.  Beginning 30 days after notice by the Office of

15  Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development to the Department of

16  Revenue that the applicant has been certified as a motorsports

17  entertainment complex pursuant to s. 288.1170 and is open to

18  the public, an amount not to exceed $83,333 shall be

19  distributed monthly, for up to 360 months, to the applicant

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

21  notifies the Department of Revenue that the applicant is no

22  longer a certified motorsports entertainment complex, in which

23  case the distributions will cease within 30 days after the

24  receipt of such notice.  This distribution is subject to

25  reduction pursuant to s. 288.1170.

26         8.  All other proceeds shall remain with the General

27  Revenue Fund.

28         Section 2.  Section 288.1170, Florida Statutes, is

29  created to read:

30         288.1170  Motorsports entertainment complex;

31  definitions; certification; duties.--

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  1         (1)  As used in this section:

  2         (a)  "Applicant" means the owner of a motorsports

  3  entertainment complex.

  4         (b)  "Motorsports entertainment complex" means a

  5  closed-course racing facility, with ancillary grounds and

  6  facilities, which:

  7         1.  Has not fewer than 70,000 permanent seats for race

  8  patrons.

  9         2.  Has not fewer than 7 scheduled days of motorsports

10  events each calendar year.

11         3.  Has paid admissions of more than 200,000 annually.

12         4.  Serves food at the facility during sanctioned

13  motorsports races.

14         5.  Engages in tourism promotion.

15         (c)  "Motorsports event" means a motorsports race and

16  its ancillary activities, which have been sanctioned by a

17  sanctioning body.

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

19  Economic Development of the Executive Office of the Governor.

20         (e)  "Owner" means a unit of local government that owns

21  a motorsports entertainment complex or owns the land on which

22  the motorsports entertainment complex is located.

23         (f)  "Sanctioning body" means the American Motorcycle

24  Association (AMA), Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART),

25  Grand American Road Racing Association (Grand Am), Indy Racing

26  League (IRL), National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing

27  (NASCAR), National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), Professional

28  Sportscar Racing (PSR), Sports Car Club of America (SCCA),

29  United States Auto Club (USAC), or any successor organization,

30  or any other nationally recognized governing body of

31  motorsports that establishes an annual schedule of motorsports

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  1  events and grants rights to conduct such events, has

  2  established and administers rules and regulations governing

  3  all participants involved in such events and all persons

  4  conducting such events, and requires certain liability

  5  assurances, including insurance.

  6         (g)  "Unit of local government" has the meaning

  7  ascribed in s. 218.369.

  8         (2)  The Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic

  9  Development shall serve as the state agency for screening

10  applicants for state funding pursuant to s. 212.20 and for

11  certifying an applicant as a motorsports entertainment

12  complex.  The office shall develop and adopt rules for the

13  receipt and processing of applications for funding pursuant to

14  s. 212.20.  The office shall make a determination regarding

15  any application filed by an applicant not later than 120 days

16  after the application is filed.

17         (3)  Prior to certifying an applicant as a motorsports

18  entertainment complex, the office must determine that:

19         (a)  A unit of local government holds title to the land

20  on which the motorsports entertainment complex is located or

21  holds title to the motorsports entertainment complex.

22         (b)  Seven scheduled days of motorsports events were

23  held at the motorsports entertainment complex in the most

24  recently completed calendar year or seven scheduled days of

25  motorsports events are scheduled to be held at the motorsports

26  entertainment complex in the calendar year which begins after

27  the submission of the application.  The applicant shall submit

28  certifications from the appropriate officials of the relevant

29  sanctioning bodies that such sanctioned motorsports events

30  were or will be held at the motorsports entertainment complex.

31

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  1         (c)  The applicant has an independent analysis or

  2  study, verified by the office, which demonstrates that the

  3  motorsports entertainment complex will attract, or in the most

  4  recently completed calendar year has attracted, paid

  5  attendance of more than 200,000 annually.

  6         (d)  The applicant has an independent analysis or

  7  study, verified by the office, which demonstrates that the

  8  amount of the revenues generated by the taxes imposed under

  9  chapter 212 with respect to the use and operation of the

10  motorsports entertainment complex will equal or exceed $1

11  million annually.

12         (e)  The applicant has demonstrated that it is capable

13  of providing, or has financial or other commitments to

14  provide, more than one-half of the costs that will be incurred

15  after certification under this section for the improvement and

16  development or continued improvement and development of the

17  motorsports entertainment complex which will enable the

18  motorsports entertainment complex to retain or add motorsports

19  events sanctioned by a sanctioning body.

20         (f)  The municipality in which the motorsports

21  entertainment complex is located, or the county if the

22  motorsports entertainment complex is located in an

23  unincorporated area, has certified by resolution after a

24  public hearing that the application serves a public purpose.

25         (g)  The motorsports entertainment complex is located

26  in a county defined in s. 125.011(1).

27         (4)  Upon determining that an applicant meets the

28  requirements of subsection (3), the office shall notify the

29  applicant and the executive director of the Department of

30  Revenue of such certification by means of an official letter

31  granting certification.  If the applicant fails to meet the

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  1  certification requirements of subsection (3), the office shall

  2  notify the applicant not later than 10 days following such

  3  determination.

  4         (5)  The office must recertify each year that the

  5  motorsports entertainment complex continues to generate $1

  6  million of sales tax revenues annually as required pursuant to

  7  paragraph (3)(d).  If the motorsports entertainment complex

  8  fails to generate $1 million of sales tax revenues annually as

  9  required pursuant to paragraph (3)(d), the distribution of

10  revenues pursuant to s. 212.20(6)(d)7.e. shall be reduced to

11  an amount equal to $83,333 multiplied by a fraction, the

12  numerator of which is the actual revenues generated and the

13  denominator of which is $1 million.  Such reduction shall

14  remain in effect until revenues generated by the motorsports

15  entertainment complex in a consecutive 12-month period equal

16  or exceed $1 million.  The office must notify the Department

17  of Revenue if it determines that the motorsports entertainment

18  complex is no longer certified to receive distributions

19  pursuant to s. 212.20 or if the amount of such distribution is

20  to be adjusted.

21         (6)  No motorsports entertainment complex which has

22  been previously certified under this section and has received

23  funding under such certification shall be eligible for any

24  additional certification.

25         (7)  An applicant certified as a motorsports

26  entertainment complex may use funds provided pursuant to s.

27  212.20 only for the following public purposes:

28         (a)  Paying for the construction, reconstruction,

29  expansion, or renovation of a motorsports entertainment

30  complex.

31

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  1         (b)  Paying debt service reserve funds, arbitrage

  2  rebate obligations, or other amounts payable with respect to

  3  bonds issued for the construction, reconstruction, expansion,

  4  or renovation of the motorsports entertainment complex or for

  5  the reimbursement of such costs or the refinancing of bonds

  6  issued for such purposes.

  7         (c)  Paying for construction, reconstruction,

  8  expansion, or renovation of transportation or other

  9  infrastructure improvements related to, necessary for, or

10  appurtenant to the motorsports entertainment complex,

11  including, without limitation, paying debt service reserve

12  funds, arbitrage rebate obligations, or other amounts payable

13  with respect to bonds issued for the construction,

14  reconstruction, expansion, or renovation of such

15  transportation or other infrastructure improvements, and for

16  the reimbursement of such costs or the refinancing of bonds

17  issued for such purposes.

18         (d)  Paying for programs of advertising and promotion

19  of or related to the motorsports entertainment complex or the

20  municipality in which the motorsports entertainment complex is

21  located, or the county if the motorsports entertainment

22  complex is located in an unincorporated area, provided such

23  programs of advertising and promotion are designed to increase

24  paid attendance at the motorsports entertainment complex or

25  increase tourism in or promote the economic development of the

26  community in which the motorsports entertainment complex is

27  located.

28         (8)  The Department of Revenue may audit, as provided

29  in s. 213.34, to verify that the distributions pursuant to

30  this section have been expended as required in this section.

31  Such information is subject to the confidentiality

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  1  requirements of chapter 213.  If the Department of Revenue

  2  determines that the distributions pursuant to this section

  3  have not been expended as required by this section, it may

  4  pursue recovery of such funds pursuant to the laws and rules

  5  governing the assessment of taxes.

  6         Section 3.  This act shall take effect October 1, 2002.

  7

  8            *****************************************

  9                          HOUSE SUMMARY

10
      Provides for distribution of a portion of revenues from
11    the tax on sales, use, and other transactions to finance
      motorsports entertainment complexes. Defines "motorsports
12    entertainment complex" and other terms for purposes of
      the act. Provides for certification of a motorsports
13    entertainment complex by the Office of Tourism, Trade,
      and Economic Development of the Executive Office of the
14    Governor. Provides requirements for certification.
      Requires specified notice. Provides for the use of funds
15    distributed to a motorsports entertainment complex.
      Provides for annual recertification. Provides for a
16    reduction of funding under specified circumstances.
      Provides for audits by the Department of Revenue.
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