HB 1351CS

CHAMBER ACTION




1The Economic Development, Trade & Banking Committee recommends
2the following:
3
4     Council/Committee Substitute
5     Remove the entire bill and insert:
6
A bill to be entitled
7An act relating to qualified job training organizations;
8creating s. 288.1171, F.S.; providing a definition;
9providing for certification by the Office of Tourism,
10Trade, and Economic Development of an organization as a
11qualified job training organization; providing for
12distribution of certain funds to a certified organization;
13specifying uses of certain proceeds; authorizing the
14Auditor General to audit such organizations for certain
15purposes; providing for revocation of certification under
16certain circumstances; providing appropriations; providing
17for appropriations to be distributed through the office;
18specifying uses of appropriations; providing an effective
19date.
20
21Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
22
23     Section 1.  Section 288.1171, Florida Statutes, is created
24to read:
25     288.1171  Qualified job training organizations;
26certification; duties.--
27     (1)  For purposes of this section, the term "qualified job
28training organization" means an organization that:
29     (a)  Is accredited by the Commission for Accreditation of
30Rehabilitation Facilities.
31     (b)  Is an organization that collects the sales tax imposed
32by this state.
33     (c)  Is a statewide organization with more than 100
34locations within the state.
35     (d)  Is exempt from income taxation under s. 501(c)(3) or
36(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
37     (e)  Specializes in the retail sale of donated items.
38     (f)  Provides job training and employment services to
39individuals who have workplace disadvantages and disabilities.
40     (g)  Uses a majority of its revenues for job training and
41placement programs that create jobs and foster economic
42development.
43     (2)  To be eligible for funding as provided in this
44section, an organization must be certified by the Office of
45Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development as meeting the criteria
46specified in subsection (1).
47     (3)  After a qualified job training organization is
48certified, the organization shall use proceeds as provided in
49this section solely to encourage and provide economic
50development through capital construction, improvements, or
51purchases of equipment that will result in expanded employment
52opportunities.
53     (4)  The Auditor General may audit a qualified job training
54organization to verify that the distributions to the
55organization under this section have been expended by the
56organization as required by this section. If the Auditor General
57determines that the distributions have not been expended as
58required by this section, the Office of Tourism, Trade, and
59Economic Development may pursue recovery of such proceeds
60pursuant to the laws and rules governing the assessment of
61taxes.
62     (5)  Failure to use the proceeds as provided in this
63section constitutes grounds for revoking certification.
64     Section 2.  The sum of $3 million is appropriated each year
65for 10 years from nonrecurring general revenue to the Office of
66Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development for the purpose
67specified in s. 288.1171(3), Florida Statutes. For the 2005-2006
68fiscal year, these funds are appropriated from nonrecurring
69general revenue. For fiscal years 2006-2007 through 2015-2016,
70the funds appropriated shall be appropriated from nonrecurring
71general revenue or as specifically provided in the General
72Appropriations Act. Such appropriated funds shall be distributed
73by the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development to
74organizations meeting the requirements of s. 288.1171(1),
75Florida Statutes, solely to encourage and provide economic
76development through capital construction, improvements, or
77purchases of equipment that will result in expanded employment
78opportunities.
79     Section 3.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2005.


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