HB 0015CS

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 the community contribution tax credit
8program; amending s. 212.08, F.S.; increasing the amount
9of available annual community contribution tax credits;
10requiring the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic
11Development to reserve portions of certain annual tax
12credits for donations made to eligible sponsors for
13projects that provide homeownership opportunities for
14certain households; providing requirements, criteria, and
15limitations; extending an expiration date; amending s.
16220.03, F.S.; revising a definition to delete a provision
17authorizing the office to reserve certain portions of
18available annual tax credits for donations made to
19eligible sponsors for projects that provide homeownership
20opportunities for certain households; extending an
21expiration date; amending s. 220.183, F.S.; increasing the
22amount of available annual community contribution tax
23credits; revising eligibility criteria; requiring the
24Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development to
25reserve portions of certain annual tax credits for
26donations made to eligible sponsors for projects that
27provide homeownership opportunities for certain
28households; providing requirements, criteria, and
29limitations; extending an expiration date; amending s.
30624.5105, F.S.; increasing the amount of available annual
31community contribution tax credits; limiting application
32of certain retaliatory tax provisions under certain
33circumstances; revising tax credit eligibility criteria;
34requiring the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic
35Development to reserve portions of certain annual tax
36credits for donations made to eligible sponsors for
37projects that provide homeownership opportunities for
38certain households; providing requirements, criteria, and
39limitations; extending an expiration date; providing an
40effective date.
41
42Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
43
44     Section 1.  Paragraph (q) of subsection (5) of section
45212.08, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
46     212.08  Sales, rental, use, consumption, distribution, and
47storage tax; specified exemptions.--The sale at retail, the
48rental, the use, the consumption, the distribution, and the
49storage to be used or consumed in this state of the following
50are hereby specifically exempt from the tax imposed by this
51chapter.
52     (5)  EXEMPTIONS; ACCOUNT OF USE.--
53     (q)  Community contribution tax credit for donations.--
54     1.  Authorization.--Beginning July 1, 2001, persons who are
55registered with the department under s. 212.18 to collect or
56remit sales or use tax and who make donations to eligible
57sponsors are eligible for tax credits against their state sales
58and use tax liabilities as provided in this paragraph:
59     a.  The credit shall be computed as 50 percent of the
60person's approved annual community contribution;
61     b.  The credit shall be granted as a refund against state
62sales and use taxes reported on returns and remitted in the 12
63months preceding the date of application to the department for
64the credit as required in sub-subparagraph 3.c. If the annual
65credit is not fully used through such refund because of
66insufficient tax payments during the applicable 12-month period,
67the unused amount may be included in an application for a refund
68made pursuant to sub-subparagraph 3.c. in subsequent years
69against the total tax payments made for such year. Carryover
70credits may be applied for a 3-year period without regard to any
71time limitation that would otherwise apply under s. 215.26;
72     c.  No person shall receive more than $200,000 in annual
73tax credits for all approved community contributions made in any
74one year;
75     d.  All proposals for the granting of the tax credit shall
76require the prior approval of the Office of Tourism, Trade, and
77Economic Development;
78     e.  The total amount of tax credits which may be granted
79for all programs approved under this paragraph, s. 220.183, and
80s. 624.5105 is $15 $10 million annually; and
81     f.  A person who is eligible to receive the credit provided
82for in this paragraph, s. 220.183, or s. 624.5105 may receive
83the credit only under the one section of the person's choice.
84     2.  Eligibility requirements.--
85     a.  A community contribution by a person must be in the
86following form:
87     (I)  Cash or other liquid assets;
88     (II)  Real property;
89     (III)  Goods or inventory; or
90     (IV)  Other physical resources as identified by the Office
91of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development.
92     b.  All community contributions must be reserved
93exclusively for use in a project. As used in this sub-
94subparagraph, the term "project" means any activity undertaken
95by an eligible sponsor which is designed to construct, improve,
96or substantially rehabilitate housing that is affordable to low-
97income or very-low-income households as defined in s.
98420.9071(19) and (28); designed to provide commercial,
99industrial, or public resources and facilities; or designed to
100improve entrepreneurial and job-development opportunities for
101low-income persons. A project may be the investment necessary to
102increase access to high-speed broadband capability in rural
103communities with enterprise zones, including projects that
104result in improvements to communications assets that are owned
105by a business. A project may include the provision of museum
106educational programs and materials that are directly related to
107any project approved between January 1, 1996, and December 31,
1081999, and located in an enterprise zone as referenced in s.
109290.00675. This paragraph does not preclude projects that
110propose to construct or rehabilitate housing for low-income or
111very-low-income households on scattered sites. The Office of
112Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development may reserve up to 50
113percent of the available annual tax credits for housing for
114very-low-income households pursuant to s. 420.9071(28) for the
115first 6 months of the fiscal year. With respect to housing,
116contributions may be used to pay the following eligible low-
117income and very-low-income housing-related activities:
118     (I)  Project development impact and management fees for
119low-income or very-low-income housing projects;
120     (II)  Down payment and closing costs for eligible persons,
121as defined in s. 420.9071(19) and (28);
122     (III)  Administrative costs, including housing counseling
123and marketing fees, not to exceed 10 percent of the community
124contribution, directly related to low-income or very-low-income
125projects; and
126     (IV)  Removal of liens recorded against residential
127property by municipal, county, or special district local
128governments when satisfaction of the lien is a necessary
129precedent to the transfer of the property to an eligible person,
130as defined in s. 420.9071(19) and (28), for the purpose of
131promoting home ownership. Contributions for lien removal must be
132received from a nonrelated third party.
133     c.  The project must be undertaken by an "eligible
134sponsor," which includes:
135     (I)  A community action program;
136     (II)  A nonprofit community-based development organization
137whose mission is the provision of housing for low-income or
138very-low-income households or increasing entrepreneurial and
139job-development opportunities for low-income persons;
140     (III)  A neighborhood housing services corporation;
141     (IV)  A local housing authority created under chapter 421;
142     (V)  A community redevelopment agency created under s.
143163.356;
144     (VI)  The Florida Industrial Development Corporation;
145     (VII)  A historic preservation district agency or
146organization;
147     (VIII)  A regional workforce board;
148     (IX)  A direct-support organization as provided in s.
1491009.983;
150     (X)  An enterprise zone development agency created under s.
151290.0056;
152     (XI)  A community-based organization incorporated under
153chapter 617 which is recognized as educational, charitable, or
154scientific pursuant to s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
155and whose bylaws and articles of incorporation include
156affordable housing, economic development, or community
157development as the primary mission of the corporation;
158     (XII)  Units of local government;
159     (XIII)  Units of state government; or
160     (XIV)  Any other agency that the Office of Tourism, Trade,
161and Economic Development designates by rule.
162
163In no event may a contributing person have a financial interest
164in the eligible sponsor.
165     d.  The project must be located in an area designated an
166enterprise zone or a Front Porch Florida Community pursuant to
167s. 20.18(6), unless the project increases access to high-speed
168broadband capability for rural communities with enterprise zones
169but is physically located outside the designated rural zone
170boundaries. Any project designed to construct or rehabilitate
171housing for low-income or very-low-income households as defined
172in s. 420.0971(19) and (28) is exempt from the area requirement
173of this sub-subparagraph.
174     e.(I)  The Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic
175Development shall reserve 80 percent of the available annual tax
176credits for donations made to eligible sponsors for projects
177that provide homeownership opportunities for low-income or very-
178low-income households as defined in s. 420.9071(19) and (28) for
179the first 2 months of the fiscal year. If less than 80 percent
180of the annual tax credits for donations made to eligible
181sponsors for projects that provide homeownership opportunities
182for low-income or very-low-income households are approved within
183the first 2 months of the fiscal year, the office may approve
184the balance of available credits for donations made to eligible
185sponsors for projects other than those that provide
186homeownership opportunities for low-income or very-low-income
187households.
188     (II)  The office shall reserve 20 percent of the available
189annual tax credits for donations made to eligible sponsors for
190projects other than those that provide homeownership
191opportunities for low-income or very-low-income households as
192defined in s. 420.9071(19) and (28) for the first 2 months of
193the fiscal year. If less than 20 percent of the annual tax
194credits for donations made to eligible sponsors for projects
195other than those that provide homeownership opportunities for
196low-income or very-low-income households are approved within the
197first 2 months of the fiscal year, the office may approve the
198balance of available credits for donations made to eligible
199sponsors for projects that provide homeownership opportunities
200for low-income or very-low-income households.
201     (III)  If, during the first 10 business days of the state
202fiscal year, tax credit applications are received for more than
20380 percent of available annual tax credits for approved projects
204that provide homeownership opportunities for low-income or very-
205low-income households, the office shall grant the tax credits
206for such applications as follows:
207     (A)  If tax credit applications submitted for approved
208projects of an eligible sponsor do not exceed a total of
209$200,000, the credits shall be granted in full if the tax credit
210applications are approved and subject to the provisions of sub-
211sub-subparagraph (I).
212     (B)  If tax credit applications submitted for approved
213projects of an eligible sponsor exceed a total of $200,000, the
214amount of tax credits granted pursuant to sub-sub-sub-
215subparagraph (A) shall be subtracted from the amount of
216available tax credits pursuant to sub-sub-subparagraph (I), and
217the remaining credits shall be granted to each approved tax
218credit application on a pro rata basis.
219     (C)  If, after the first 2 months of the fiscal year,
220additional credits become available pursuant to sub-sub-
221subparagraph (II), the office shall grant the tax credits by
222first increasing the credit of those who received a pro rata
223reduction and, if there are remaining credits, granting credits
224to those who applied on or after the 11th business day of the
225state fiscal year on a first-come, first-served basis.
226     (IV)  If, during the first 10 business days of the state
227fiscal year, tax credit applications are received for more than
22820 percent of available annual tax credits for approved projects
229other than those that provide homeownership opportunities for
230low-income or very-low-income households, the office shall grant
231the tax credits to each approved tax credit application on a pro
232rata basis. If, after the first 2 months of the fiscal year,
233additional credits become available pursuant to sub-sub-
234subparagraph (I), the office shall grant the tax credits by
235first increasing the credit of those who received a pro rata
236reduction and, if there are remaining credits, granting credits
237to those who applied on or after the 11th business day of the
238state fiscal year on a first-come, first-served basis.
239     3.  Application requirements.--
240     a.  Any eligible sponsor seeking to participate in this
241program must submit a proposal to the Office of Tourism, Trade,
242and Economic Development which sets forth the name of the
243sponsor, a description of the project, and the area in which the
244project is located, together with such supporting information as
245is prescribed by rule. The proposal must also contain a
246resolution from the local governmental unit in which the project
247is located certifying that the project is consistent with local
248plans and regulations.
249     b.  Any person seeking to participate in this program must
250submit an application for tax credit to the Office of Tourism,
251Trade, and Economic Development which sets forth the name of the
252sponsor, a description of the project, and the type, value, and
253purpose of the contribution. The sponsor shall verify the terms
254of the application and indicate its receipt of the contribution,
255which verification must be in writing and accompany the
256application for tax credit. The person must submit a separate
257tax credit application to the office for each individual
258contribution that it makes to each individual project.
259     c.  Any person who has received notification from the
260Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development that a tax
261credit has been approved must apply to the department to receive
262the refund. Application must be made on the form prescribed for
263claiming refunds of sales and use taxes and be accompanied by a
264copy of the notification. A person may submit only one
265application for refund to the department within any 12-month
266period.
267     4.  Administration.--
268     a.  The Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development
269may adopt rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 necessary
270to administer this paragraph, including rules for the approval
271or disapproval of proposals by a person.
272     b.  The decision of the Office of Tourism, Trade, and
273Economic Development must be in writing, and, if approved, the
274notification shall state the maximum credit allowable to the
275person. Upon approval, the office shall transmit a copy of the
276decision to the Department of Revenue.
277     c.  The Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development
278shall periodically monitor all projects in a manner consistent
279with available resources to ensure that resources are used in
280accordance with this paragraph; however, each project must be
281reviewed at least once every 2 years.
282     d.  The Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development
283shall, in consultation with the Department of Community Affairs,
284the Florida Housing Finance Corporation, and the statewide and
285regional housing and financial intermediaries, market the
286availability of the community contribution tax credit program to
287community-based organizations.
288     5.  Expiration.--This paragraph expires June 30, 2015 2005;
289however, any accrued credit carryover that is unused on that
290date may be used until the expiration of the 3-year carryover
291period for such credit.
292     Section 2.  Paragraph (t) of subsection (1) of section
293220.03, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
294     220.03  Definitions.--
295     (1)  SPECIFIC TERMS.--When used in this code, and when not
296otherwise distinctly expressed or manifestly incompatible with
297the intent thereof, the following terms shall have the following
298meanings:
299     (t)  "Project" means any activity undertaken by an eligible
300sponsor, as defined in s. 220.183(2)(c), which is designed to
301construct, improve, or substantially rehabilitate housing that
302is affordable to low-income or very-low-income households as
303defined in s. 420.9071(19) and (28); designed to provide
304commercial, industrial, or public resources and facilities; or
305designed to improve entrepreneurial and job-development
306opportunities for low-income persons. A project may be the
307investment necessary to increase access to high-speed broadband
308capability in rural communities with enterprise zones, including
309projects that result in improvements to communications assets
310that are owned by a business. A project may include the
311provision of museum educational programs and materials that are
312directly related to any project approved between January 1,
3131996, and December 31, 1999, and located in an enterprise zone
314as referenced in s. 290.00675. This paragraph does not preclude
315projects that propose to construct or rehabilitate low-income or
316very-low-income housing on scattered sites. The Office of
317Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development may reserve up to 50
318percent of the available annual tax credits under s. 220.181 for
319housing for very-low-income households pursuant to s.
320420.9071(28) for the first 6 months of the fiscal year. With
321respect to housing, contributions may be used to pay the
322following eligible project-related activities:
323     1.  Project development, impact, and management fees for
324low-income or very-low-income housing projects;
325     2.  Down payment and closing costs for eligible persons, as
326defined in s. 420.9071(19) and (28);
327     3.  Administrative costs, including housing counseling and
328marketing fees, not to exceed 10 percent of the community
329contribution, directly related to low-income or very-low-income
330projects; and
331     4.  Removal of liens recorded against residential property
332by municipal, county, or special-district local governments when
333satisfaction of the lien is a necessary precedent to the
334transfer of the property to an eligible person, as defined in s.
335420.9071(19) and (28), for the purpose of promoting home
336ownership. Contributions for lien removal must be received from
337a nonrelated third party.
338
339The provisions of this paragraph shall expire and be void on
340June 30, 2015 2005.
341     Section 3.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (1), paragraph (b)
342of subsection (2), and subsection (5) of section 220.183,
343Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
344     220.183  Community contribution tax credit.--
345     (1)  AUTHORIZATION TO GRANT COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTION TAX
346CREDITS; LIMITATIONS ON INDIVIDUAL CREDITS AND PROGRAM
347SPENDING.--
348     (c)  The total amount of tax credit which may be granted
349for all programs approved under this section, s. 212.08(5)(q),
350and s. 624.5105 is $15 $10 million annually.
351     (2)  ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.--
352     (b)1.  All community contributions must be reserved
353exclusively for use in projects as defined in s. 220.03(1)(t).
354     2.  The Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development
355shall may reserve 80 up to 50 percent of the available annual
356tax credits for housing for donations made to eligible sponsors
357for projects that provide homeownership opportunities for low-
358income or very-low-income households as defined in pursuant to
359s. 420.9071(19) and (28) for the first 2 6 months of the fiscal
360year. If less than 80 percent of the annual tax credits for
361donations made to eligible sponsors for projects that provide
362homeownership opportunities for low-income or very-low-income
363households are approved within the first 2 months of the fiscal
364year, the office may approve the balance of available credits
365for donations made to eligible sponsors for projects other than
366those that provide homeownership opportunities for low-income or
367very-low-income households.
368     3.  The office shall reserve 20 percent of the available
369annual tax credits for donations made to eligible sponsors for
370projects other than those that provide homeownership
371opportunities for low-income or very-low-income households as
372defined in s. 420.9071(19) and (28) for the first 2 months of
373the fiscal year. If less than 20 percent of the annual tax
374credits for donations made to eligible sponsors for projects
375other than those that provide homeownership opportunities for
376low-income or very-low-income households are approved within the
377first 2 months of the fiscal year, the office may approve the
378balance of available credits for donations made to eligible
379sponsors for projects that provide homeownership opportunities
380for low-income or very-low-income households.
381     4.  If, during the first 10 business days of the state
382fiscal year, tax credit applications are received for more than
38380 percent of available annual tax credits for approved projects
384that provide homeownership opportunities for low-income or very-
385low-income households, the office shall grant the tax credits to
386such applications as follows:
387     a.  If tax credit applications submitted for approved
388projects of an eligible sponsor do not exceed a total of
389$200,000, the credits shall be granted in full if the tax credit
390applications are approved and subject to the provisions of
391subparagraph 2.
392     b.  If tax credit applications submitted for approved
393projects of an eligible sponsor exceed a total of $200,000, the
394amount of tax credits granted pursuant to sub-subparagraph a.
395shall be subtracted from the amount of available tax credits
396pursuant to subparagraph 2., and the remaining credits shall be
397granted to each approved tax credit application on a pro rata
398basis.
399     c.  If, after the first 2 months of the fiscal year,
400additional credits become available pursuant to subparagraph 3.,
401the office shall grant the tax credits by first increasing the
402credit of those who received a pro rata reduction and, if there
403are remaining credits, granting credits to those who applied on
404or after the 11th business day of the state fiscal year on a
405first-come, first-served basis.
406     5.  If, during the first 10 business days of the state
407fiscal year, tax credit applications are received for more than
40820 percent of available annual tax credits for approved projects
409other than those that provide homeownership opportunities for
410low-income or very-low-income households, the office shall grant
411the tax credits to each approved tax credit application on a pro
412rata basis. If, after the first 2 months of the fiscal year,
413additional credits become available pursuant to subparagraph 2.,
414the office shall grant the tax credits by first increasing the
415credit of those who received a pro rata reduction and, if there
416are remaining credits, granting credits to those who applied on
417or after the 11th business day of the state fiscal year on a
418first-come, first-served basis.
419     (5)  EXPIRATION.--The provisions of this section, except
420paragraph (1)(e), shall expire and be void on June 30, 2015
4212005.
422     Section 4.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) and subsection
423(6) of section 624.5105, Florida Statutes, are amended,
424paragraph (f) is added to subsection (1), and paragraph (e) is
425added to subsection (2) of said section, to read:
426     624.5105  Community contribution tax credit; authorization;
427limitations; eligibility and application requirements;
428administration; definitions; expiration.--
429     (1)  AUTHORIZATION TO GRANT TAX CREDITS; LIMITATIONS.--
430     (c)  The total amount of tax credit which may be granted
431for all programs approved under this section and ss.
432212.08(5)(q) and s. 220.183 is $15 $10 million annually.
433     (f)  An insurer that claims a credit against premium tax
434liability earned by making a community contribution under this
435section need not pay any additional retaliatory tax levied under
436s. 624.5091 as a result of claiming such a credit and s.
437624.5091 does not limit such a credit in any manner.
438     (2)  ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.--
439     (e)1.  The Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic
440Development shall reserve 80 percent of the available annual tax
441credits for donations made to eligible sponsors for projects
442that provide homeownership opportunities for low-income or very-
443low-income households as defined in s. 420.9071(19) and (28) for
444the first 2 months of the fiscal year. If less than 80 percent
445of the annual tax credits for donations made to eligible
446sponsors for projects that provide homeownership opportunities
447for low-income or very-low-income households are approved within
448the first 2 months of the fiscal year, the office may approve
449the balance of available credits for donations made to eligible
450sponsors for projects other than those that provide
451homeownership opportunities for low-income or very-low-income
452households.
453     2.  The office shall reserve 20 percent of the available
454annual tax credits for donations made to eligible sponsors for
455projects other than those that provide homeownership
456opportunities for low-income or very-low-income households as
457defined in s. 420.9071(19) and (28) for the first 2 months of
458the fiscal year. If less than 20 percent of the annual tax
459credits for donations made to eligible sponsors for projects
460other than those that provide homeownership opportunities for
461low-income or very-low-income households are approved within the
462first 2 months of the fiscal year, the office may approve the
463balance of available credits for donations made to eligible
464sponsors for projects that provide homeownership opportunities
465for low-income or very-low-income households.
466     3.  If, during the first 10 business days of the state
467fiscal year, tax credit applications are received for more than
46880 percent of available annual tax credits for approved projects
469that provide homeownership opportunities for low-income or very-
470low-income households, the office shall grant the tax credits
471for such applications as follows:
472     a.  If tax credit applications submitted for approved
473projects of an eligible sponsor do not exceed a total of
474$200,000, the credits shall be granted in full if the tax credit
475applications are approved and subject to the provisions of
476subparagraph 1.
477     b.  If tax credit applications submitted for approved
478projects of an eligible sponsor exceed a total of $200,000, the
479amount of tax credits granted pursuant to sub-subparagraph a.
480shall be subtracted from the amount of available tax credits
481pursuant to subparagraph 1., and the remaining credits shall be
482granted to each approved tax credit application on a pro rata
483basis.
484     c.  If, after the first 2 months of the fiscal year,
485additional credits become available pursuant to subparagraph 2.,
486the office shall grant the tax credits by first increasing the
487credit of those who received a pro rata reduction and, if there
488are remaining credits, granting credits to those who applied on
489or after the 11th business day of the state fiscal year on a
490first-come, first-served basis.
491     4.  If, during the first 10 business days of the state
492fiscal year, tax credit applications are received for more than
49320 percent of available annual tax credits for approved projects
494other than those that provide homeownership opportunities for
495low-income or very-low-income households, the office shall grant
496the tax credits to each approved tax credit application on a pro
497rata basis. If, after the first 2 months of the fiscal year,
498additional credits become available pursuant to subparagraph 1.,
499the office shall grant the tax credits by first increasing the
500credit of those who received a pro rata reduction and, if there
501are remaining credits, granting credits to those who applied on
502or after the 11th business day of the state fiscal year on a
503first-come, first-served basis.
504     (6)  EXPIRATION.--The provisions of this section, except
505paragraph (1)(e), shall expire and be void on June 30, 2015
5062005.
507     Section 5.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2005.


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