Senate Bill sb2074c1

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    Florida Senate - 2005                           CS for SB 2074

    By the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Services; and
    Senators Constantine, Pruitt, Clary and Campbell




    577-2151-05

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to hydrogen energy technology;

  3         creating s. 377.801, F.S.; creating the

  4         Hydrogen Energy Technologies Act; creating s.

  5         377.802, F.S.; providing legislative intent

  6         concerning the development and promotion of

  7         hydrogen energy technologies; creating s.

  8         377.803, F.S.; providing the purpose of the

  9         act; creating s. 377.804, F.S.; providing

10         definitions; creating s. 377.805, F.S.;

11         creating the Hydrogen Energy Technologies

12         Grants Program within the Department of

13         Environmental Protection to promote

14         demonstration, commercialization, research, and

15         development of hydrogen energy technologies;

16         providing for matching grants to be made to

17         specified entities; providing factors for the

18         department to consider in awarding grants;

19         authorizing the department to amend grant

20         awards; requiring that the department report to

21         the Governor and the Legislature on the grant

22         program; amending s. 212.08, F.S.; providing a

23         sales tax exemption for certain hydrogen energy

24         technology projects; creating s. 213.053, F.S.;

25         providing for information sharing between the

26         Department of Revenue and the Department of

27         Environmental Protection for purposes of the

28         tax exemption and tax credit created by the

29         act; amending s. 220.02, F.S.; providing for

30         the priority of tax credits; creating s.

31         220.192, F.S.; creating a hydrogen energy

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    Florida Senate - 2005                           CS for SB 2074
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 1         technologies investment tax credit; defining

 2         terms; providing for a credit to be taken

 3         against the corporate income tax for a

 4         specified period; requiring that application be

 5         made to the Department of Environmental

 6         Protection for certification of eligibility for

 7         the credit; authorizing the Department of

 8         Environmental Protection to adopt rules;

 9         authorizing the Department of Revenue to

10         perform audits and investigations; providing

11         procedures for revoking or modifying the

12         decision granting eligibility for the tax

13         credit; authorizing the Department of Revenue

14         to adopt rules; providing for expiration of the

15         provisions authorizing the tax credit; amending

16         s. 220.13, F.S.; allowing the adjustment of

17         federal income in conformance with tax credits

18         taken; amending s. 366.075, F.S.; authorizing

19         the Public Service Commission to approve

20         experimental or transitional rates to encourage

21         the use of renewable energy; amending s.

22         366.8255, F.S.; authorizing an investor-owned

23         electric utility to recover the costs of

24         investments in hydrogen energy technologies

25         incurred within a specified period; amending s.

26         633.022, F.S.; authorizing the State Fire

27         Marshal to adopt uniform standards for hydrogen

28         fueling, storage, and production facilities;

29         providing an effective date.

30  

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

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    Florida Senate - 2005                           CS for SB 2074
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 1         Section 1.  Section 377.801, Florida Statutes, is

 2  created to read:

 3         377.801  Short title.--Sections 377.801-377.805 may be

 4  cited as the "Florida Hydrogen Energy Technologies Act."

 5         Section 2.  Section 377.802, Florida Statutes, is

 6  created to read:

 7         377.802  Legislative intent.--The Legislature finds

 8  that advancing the development of clean and efficient energy

 9  technologies is important for the state's future, will promote

10  energy stability, and will protect the public health of the

11  state's people and environment. The Legislature finds that

12  hydrogen can be used as a clean and efficient energy carrier,

13  and that the development of hydrogen technologies in the state

14  will help to reduce pollution, reduce demand on foreign fuels,

15  promote energy diversity, enhance system reliability, educate

16  the public on the promise of alternative energy technologies,

17  and promote economic growth. The Legislature finds that the

18  promotion of hydrogen energy technologies will also promote

19  the development of associated energy technologies, including

20  fuel cells and solar technologies. The Legislature finds that

21  there is a need to assist in the development of early market

22  demand that will advance the commercialization and widespread

23  application of hydrogen energy technologies. The Legislature

24  further finds that this state is ideally positioned to

25  stimulate such advanced energy technology economic development

26  due to its ongoing and successful research and development

27  track record in this area, an abundance of natural and

28  renewable energy sources, an ability to attract significant

29  research and development federal dollars, and the need for the

30  state to find and secure clean energy technologies for the

31  benefit of this state's residents, visitors, and environment.

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    Florida Senate - 2005                           CS for SB 2074
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 1         Section 3.  Section 377.803, Florida Statutes, is

 2  created to read:

 3         377.803  Purpose.--The Florida Hydrogen Energy

 4  Technologies Act is intended to provide matching grants to

 5  stimulate capital investment in this state and to enhance the

 6  market for, and promote the statewide use of, hydrogen energy

 7  technologies. This targeted grant program is designed to

 8  advance the already growing establishment of hydrogen energy

 9  technologies in the state and encourage the use of other

10  incentives such as tax exemptions and to provide regulatory

11  certainty in order to attract additional producers,

12  developers, and users of hydrogen energy technology to this

13  state.

14         Section 4.  Section 377.804, Florida Statutes, is

15  created to read:

16         377.804  Definitions.--As used in this act, the term:

17         (1)  "Act" means the Hydrogen Energy Technologies Act.

18         (2)  "Balance of plant" means all equipment and

19  components directly involved in the generation, storage, or

20  use of hydrogen for energy production located at the site of

21  hydrogen generation or use.

22         (3)  "Department" means the Department of Environmental

23  Protection.

24         (4)  "Fuel cell" means equipment using an

25  electrochemical process to generate energy, electricity, or

26  transfer of heat.

27         (5)  "Electrical grid optimization" means the use of

28  hydrogen energy technology to assist in decreasing electrical

29  peak demand.

30         (6)  "Hydrogen energy technology" means any technology

31  that is used primarily for the purpose of generating or using

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 1  hydrogen directly as a fuel in this state, including, but not

 2  limited to:

 3         (a)  Stationary fuel cell systems, or internal

 4  combustion engine systems fueled with hydrogen, used for power

 5  generation, including prime power, supplemental power, and

 6  back-up power, and the balance of plant.

 7         (b)  On-road and off-road vehicles and watercraft

 8  powered by fuel cells or internal combustion engines fueled

 9  with hydrogen.

10         (c)  Fueling systems and supportive infrastructure.

11         (d)  Renewable energy resource systems used to

12  electrolytically produce hydrogen.

13         (e)  Reformer technologies used to produce hydrogen

14  from the respective hydrogen carrier, including, but not

15  limited to, steam-methane, biomass, and chemical.

16         (f)  Electrical grid electrolysis.

17         (g)  Electrical grid optimization technologies.

18         (7)  "Person" means an individual, partnership, joint

19  venture, private or public corporation, association, firm,

20  public service company, or any other entity, public or

21  private, however organized.

22         (8)  "Renewable energy resource" means any method,

23  process, or substance, the use of which does not diminish its

24  availability or abundance, including, but not limited to,

25  solar energy, wind energy, thermal gradient power,

26  hydroelectric power, and fuels derived from agricultural

27  products, but does not include fossil fuel or nuclear power.

28         Section 5.  Section 377.805, Florida Statutes, is

29  created to read:

30         377.805  Hydrogen Energy Technologies Grants Program.--

31  

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 1         (1)  The Hydrogen Energy Technologies Grants Program is

 2  established within the department to provide hydrogen energy

 3  matching grants for demonstration and commercialization

 4  projects and for research and development relating to hydrogen

 5  energy technologies and electrical grid optimization.

 6         (2)  Matching grants for hydrogen energy demonstration

 7  and commercialization projects and for research and

 8  development projects may be made to any of the following based

 9  on the criteria in this section:

10         (a)  Municipalities and county governments.

11         (b)  Established for-profit companies licensed to do

12  business in this state.

13         (c)  State universities.

14         (d)  Utilities located and operating within the state.

15         (e)  Nonprofit organizations.

16         (f)  Qualified persons.

17         (3)  The department shall adopt rules to administer the

18  awarding of grants under this program.

19         (4)  Factors that the department shall consider in

20  awarding grants include, but are not limited to:

21         (a)  The extent to which the project stimulates

22  in-state capital investment and economic development in

23  metropolitan and rural areas, including job creation and

24  future development of a commercial market for clean energy

25  technologies.

26         (b)  The availability of matching funds from an

27  applicant and the applicant's commitment to provide matching

28  funds.

29         (c)  The ability to administer a complete project.

30         (d)  Project duration and the timeline for

31  expenditures.

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 1         (e)  The geographic area of the state in which the

 2  project is to be conducted in relation to other projects.

 3         (f)  Other in-kind contributions applied to the total

 4  project.

 5         (g)  The extent to which the project incorporates an

 6  innovative new technology or an innovative application of an

 7  existing technology.

 8         (h)  The degree to which a project generates thermal or

 9  electrical energy by means of a low or zero-emissions

10  generation technology or renewable energy resource that has

11  substantial potential for long-term production.

12         (i)  The degree to which the project fosters an overall

13  understanding and appreciation of clean energy technologies by

14  the general public, students, or a specific government or

15  sector of industry.

16         (j)  The degree of public visibility and interaction.

17         (5)  Grants awarded to any entity may subsequently be

18  amended by the department upon a determination that sufficient

19  criteria in subsection (4) are met for the additional funds.

20         (6)  The department shall provide a progress report on

21  grants awarded to recipients to the Governor, the President of

22  the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

23  The report must include:

24         (a)  A description of the extent to which the grants

25  program is benefiting the state's environment, public health,

26  and economic development;

27         (b)  A list of grant recipients;

28         (c)  The amount of each grant;

29         (d)  The amount of matching funds provided by

30  recipients;

31         (e)  The date of each grant;

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 1         (f)  A description of each project or expansion funded

 2  by a grant; and

 3         (g)  A description of each project's contribution to

 4  the state's knowledge and use of hydrogen energy technologies.

 5         Section 6.  Paragraph (ccc) is added to subsection (7)

 6  of section 212.08, Florida Statutes, to read:

 7         212.08  Sales, rental, use, consumption, distribution,

 8  and storage tax; specified exemptions.--The sale at retail,

 9  the rental, the use, the consumption, the distribution, and

10  the storage to be used or consumed in this state of the

11  following are hereby specifically exempt from the tax imposed

12  by this chapter.

13         (7)  MISCELLANEOUS EXEMPTIONS.--Exemptions provided to

14  any entity by this chapter do not inure to any transaction

15  that is otherwise taxable under this chapter when payment is

16  made by a representative or employee of the entity by any

17  means, including, but not limited to, cash, check, or credit

18  card, even when that representative or employee is

19  subsequently reimbursed by the entity. In addition, exemptions

20  provided to any entity by this subsection do not inure to any

21  transaction that is otherwise taxable under this chapter

22  unless the entity has obtained a sales tax exemption

23  certificate from the department or the entity obtains or

24  provides other documentation as required by the department.

25  Eligible purchases or leases made with such a certificate must

26  be in strict compliance with this subsection and departmental

27  rules, and any person who makes an exempt purchase with a

28  certificate that is not in strict compliance with this

29  subsection and the rules is liable for and shall pay the tax.

30  The department may adopt rules to administer this subsection.

31  

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    Florida Senate - 2005                           CS for SB 2074
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 1         (ccc)  Equipment, machinery, and other materials for

 2  hydrogen energy technologies.--

 3         1.  The sale or use of hydrogen energy technologies as

 4  defined by s. 377.804(6) and of materials used in the

 5  manufacture of hydrogen energy technologies is exempt from the

 6  tax imposed by this chapter.

 7         2.  The Department of Environmental Protection shall

 8  provide to the Department of Revenue a list of items

 9  considered to meet the definition of hydrogen energy

10  technologies in s. 377.804(6). Any person may request a

11  determination from the Department of Environmental Protection

12  as to whether an item that is not on the list meets the

13  definition of hydrogen energy technology as defined by s.

14  377.804(6). The Department of Environmental Protection shall

15  make a determination and issue a revised list if appropriate.

16  The Department of Environmental Protection may adopt rules to

17  administer this paragraph.

18         3.  The Department of Revenue may provide procedures by

19  rule for purchasers to make tax-exempt purchases.

20         4.  This paragraph is repealed July 1, 2009.

21         Section 7.  Paragraph (y) is added to subsection (7) of

22  section 213.053, Florida Statutes, to read:

23         213.053  Confidentiality and information sharing.--

24         (7)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this

25  section, the department may provide:

26         (y)  Information relative to ss. 212.08(7)(ccc) and

27  220.192 to the Department of Environmental Protection for use

28  in conducting its official business.

29  

30  Disclosure of information under this subsection shall be

31  pursuant to a written agreement between the executive director

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 1  and the agency.  Such agencies, governmental or

 2  nongovernmental, shall be bound by the same requirements of

 3  confidentiality as the Department of Revenue.  Breach of

 4  confidentiality is a misdemeanor of the first degree,

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

 6         Section 8.  Subsection (8) of section 220.02, Florida

 7  Statutes, is amended to read:

 8         220.02  Legislative intent.--

 9         (8)  It is the intent of the Legislature that credits

10  against either the corporate income tax or the franchise tax

11  be applied in the following order: those enumerated in s.

12  631.828, those enumerated in s. 220.191, those enumerated in

13  s. 220.181, those enumerated in s. 220.183, those enumerated

14  in s. 220.182, those enumerated in s. 220.1895, those

15  enumerated in s. 221.02, those enumerated in s. 220.184, those

16  enumerated in s. 220.186, those enumerated in s. 220.1845,

17  those enumerated in s. 220.19, those enumerated in s. 220.185,

18  and those enumerated in s. 220.187, and those enumerated in s.

19  220.192.

20         Section 9.  Section 220.192, Florida Statutes, is

21  created to read:

22         220.192  Hydrogen energy technologies investment tax

23  credit.--

24         (1)  As used in this section, the term:

25         (a)  "Eligible costs" means all capital costs,

26  operation and maintenance costs, and research and development

27  costs incurred between July 1, 2005, and June 30, 2009, in

28  connection with an investment in hydrogen energy technologies

29  in this state, including, but not limited to, the costs of

30  acquiring, leasing, constructing, installing, equipping, and

31  financing hydrogen energy technologies in this state; all

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 1  obligations incurred for labor; and obligations to

 2  contractors, subcontractors, builders, and materialmen in this

 3  state.

 4         (b)  "Hydrogen energy technology" means hydrogen energy

 5  technology as defined in s. 377.804(6).

 6         (2)  For tax years beginning on or after January 1,

 7  2005, a credit against the tax imposed by this chapter shall

 8  be granted in an amount equal to 75 percent of the eligible

 9  costs. Credits may be used in tax years beginning on or after

10  January 1, 2005, and ending on or before December 31, 2011,

11  after which the credit expires and may not be used. If the

12  credit under this section is not fully used in any one tax

13  year because of insufficient tax liability on the part of the

14  corporation, the unused amount may be carried forward and used

15  in tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2006, and ending

16  on or before December 31, 2011, after which the credit

17  carryover expires and may not be used. A taxpayer that files a

18  consolidated return in this state as a member of an affiliated

19  group under s. 220.131(1) may be allowed the credit on a

20  consolidated return basis up to the amount of tax imposed upon

21  the consolidated group. Any eligible cost for which a credit

22  is claimed and which is deducted or otherwise reduces federal

23  taxable income shall be added back in computing adjusted

24  federal income under s. 220.13.

25         (3)  Any corporation wishing to obtain tax credits

26  available under this chapter must submit to the Department of

27  Environmental Protection an application for the tax credit

28  which includes a complete description of all eligible costs

29  for which the corporation is seeking a credit and a

30  description of the total amount of credit sought. The

31  Department of Environmental Protection shall determine the

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 1  eligibility of the applicant for the credits sought, and

 2  certify the determination to the applicant and to the

 3  Department of Revenue. The corporation must attach the

 4  Department of Environmental Protection's certification to the

 5  tax return on which the credit is claimed. The Department of

 6  Environmental Protection may adopt the necessary rules,

 7  guidelines, and application materials for the application

 8  process.

 9         (4)(a)  In addition to its existing audit and

10  investigation authority, the Department of Revenue may perform

11  any additional financial and technical audits and

12  investigations, including examining the accounts, books, and

13  records of the tax credit applicant which are necessary to

14  verify the eligible costs included in the tax credit return

15  and to ensure compliance with this section. The Department of

16  Environmental Protection shall provide technical assistance

17  when requested by the Department of Revenue on any technical

18  audits or examinations performed pursuant to this section.

19         (b)  It is grounds for forfeiture of previously claimed

20  and received tax credits if the Department of Revenue

21  determines, as a result of an audit or examination or from

22  information received from the Department of Environmental

23  Protection, that a taxpayer received tax credits pursuant to

24  this section to which the taxpayer was not entitled. The

25  taxpayer is responsible for returning forfeited tax credits to

26  the Department of Revenue, and such funds shall be paid into

27  the General Revenue Fund of the state.

28         (c)  The Department of Environmental Protection may

29  revoke or modify any written decision granting eligibility for

30  tax credits under this section if it is discovered that the

31  tax credit applicant submitted any false statement,

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 1  representation, or certification in any application, record,

 2  report, plan, or other document filed in an attempt to receive

 3  tax credits under this section. The Department of

 4  Environmental Protection shall immediately notify the

 5  Department of Revenue of any revoked or modified orders

 6  affecting previously granted tax credits. Additionally, the

 7  taxpayer must notify the Department of Revenue of any change

 8  in its tax credit claimed.

 9         (d)  The taxpayer shall file with the Department of

10  Revenue an amended return or such other report as the

11  Department of Revenue prescribes by rule and shall pay any

12  required tax and interest within 60 days after the taxpayer

13  receives notification from the Department of Environmental

14  Protection that previously approved tax credits have been

15  revoked or modified, if uncontested, or within 60 days after a

16  final order is issued following proceedings involving a

17  contested revocation or modification order.

18         (e)  A notice of deficiency may be issued by the

19  Department of Revenue at any time within 5 years after the

20  taxpayer receives formal notification from the Department of

21  Environmental Protection that previously approved tax credits

22  have been revoked or modified. If a taxpayer fails to notify

23  the Department of Revenue of any changes to its tax credit

24  claimed, a notice of deficiency may be issued at any time.

25         (f)  A taxpayer that receives a credit under this

26  section for the construction or purchase of structures or the

27  purchase of equipment shall recapture and repay the amount of

28  credit attributable to such property if that property is not

29  used by the taxpayer for hydrogen energy technologies through

30  the warranty period of the complete system or system

31  components. If a warranty is not provided by the equipment

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 1  manufacturer, the equipment must be operated for the useful

 2  life of the complete system or system components. Credit shall

 3  not be allowed under this section for an eligible cost

 4  associated with an investment in hydrogen energy technologies

 5  if the credit has previously been allowed for such eligible

 6  cost.

 7         (5)  The Department of Revenue may adopt by rule the

 8  forms required to claim a tax credit under this section, the

 9  requirements and basis for establishing an entitlement to a

10  credit, and procedures for the examinations and audits

11  required to administer this section.

12         (6)  The provisions of this section, except the credit

13  carryover provisions contained in subsection (2), expire on

14  July 1, 2009.

15         Section 10.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section

16  220.13, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

17         220.13  "Adjusted federal income" defined.--

18         (1)  The term "adjusted federal income" means an amount

19  equal to the taxpayer's taxable income as defined in

20  subsection (2), or such taxable income of more than one

21  taxpayer as provided in s. 220.131, for the taxable year,

22  adjusted as follows:

23         (a)  Additions.--There shall be added to such taxable

24  income:

25         1.  The amount of any tax upon or measured by income,

26  excluding taxes based on gross receipts or revenues, paid or

27  accrued as a liability to the District of Columbia or any

28  state of the United States which is deductible from gross

29  income in the computation of taxable income for the taxable

30  year.

31  

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 1         2.  The amount of interest which is excluded from

 2  taxable income under s. 103(a) of the Internal Revenue Code or

 3  any other federal law, less the associated expenses disallowed

 4  in the computation of taxable income under s. 265 of the

 5  Internal Revenue Code or any other law, excluding 60 percent

 6  of any amounts included in alternative minimum taxable income,

 7  as defined in s. 55(b)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, if the

 8  taxpayer pays tax under s. 220.11(3).

 9         3.  In the case of a regulated investment company or

10  real estate investment trust, an amount equal to the excess of

11  the net long-term capital gain for the taxable year over the

12  amount of the capital gain dividends attributable to the

13  taxable year.

14         4.  That portion of the wages or salaries paid or

15  incurred for the taxable year which is equal to the amount of

16  the credit allowable for the taxable year under s. 220.181.

17  The provisions of this subparagraph shall expire and be void

18  on June 30, 2005.

19         5.  That portion of the ad valorem school taxes paid or

20  incurred for the taxable year which is equal to the amount of

21  the credit allowable for the taxable year under s. 220.182.

22  The provisions of this subparagraph shall expire and be void

23  on June 30, 2005.

24         6.  The amount of emergency excise tax paid or accrued

25  as a liability to this state under chapter 221 which tax is

26  deductible from gross income in the computation of taxable

27  income for the taxable year.

28         7.  That portion of assessments to fund a guaranty

29  association incurred for the taxable year which is equal to

30  the amount of the credit allowable for the taxable year.

31  

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 1         8.  In the case of a nonprofit corporation which holds

 2  a pari-mutuel permit and which is exempt from federal income

 3  tax as a farmers' cooperative, an amount equal to the excess

 4  of the gross income attributable to the pari-mutuel operations

 5  over the attributable expenses for the taxable year.

 6         9.  The amount taken as a credit for the taxable year

 7  under s. 220.1895.

 8         10.  Up to nine percent of the eligible basis of any

 9  designated project which is equal to the credit allowable for

10  the taxable year under s. 220.185.

11         11.  The amount taken as a credit for the taxable year

12  under s. 220.187.

13         12.  The amount taken as a credit for the taxable year

14  under s. 220.192.

15         Section 11.  Paragraph (d) of subsection (1) of section

16  366.8255, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

17         366.8255  Environmental cost recovery.--

18         (1)  As used in this section, the term:

19         (d)  "Environmental compliance costs" includes all

20  costs or expenses incurred by an electric utility in complying

21  with environmental laws or regulations or in deploying

22  hydrogen energy technologies as provided in subparagraph 8.,

23  including, but not limited to:

24         1.  Inservice capital investments, including the

25  electric utility's last authorized rate of return on equity

26  thereon;

27         2.  Operation and maintenance expenses;

28         3.  Fuel procurement costs;

29         4.  Purchased power costs;

30         5.  Emission allowance costs;

31         6.  Direct taxes on environmental equipment; and

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 1         7.  Costs or expenses prudently incurred by an electric

 2  utility pursuant to an agreement entered into on or after the

 3  effective date of this act and prior to October 1, 2002,

 4  between the electric utility and the Florida Department of

 5  Environmental Protection or the United States Environmental

 6  Protection Agency for the exclusive purpose of ensuring

 7  compliance with ozone ambient air quality standards by an

 8  electrical generating facility owned by the electric utility;

 9  and.

10         8.  Costs incurred between July 1, 2005, and June 30,

11  2009, for hydrogen energy technologies, as defined in s.

12  377.804(6), which have the potential to contribute to the

13  provision of adequate and reliable electric service to or for

14  the public of this state and which have minimal rate impacts.

15  The electric utility must demonstrate that the proposed

16  hydrogen energy technology meets the definition in s.

17  377.804(6).

18         Section 12.  Subsection (1) of section 633.022, Florida

19  Statutes, is amended, and subsection (4) is added to that

20  section, to read:

21         633.022  Uniform firesafety standards.--The Legislature

22  hereby determines that to protect the public health, safety,

23  and welfare it is necessary to provide for firesafety

24  standards governing the construction and utilization of

25  certain buildings and structures.  The Legislature further

26  determines that certain buildings or structures, due to their

27  specialized use or to the special characteristics of the

28  person utilizing or occupying these buildings or structures,

29  should be subject to firesafety standards reflecting these

30  special needs as may be appropriate.

31  

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    Florida Senate - 2005                           CS for SB 2074
    577-2151-05




 1         (1)  The department shall establish uniform firesafety

 2  standards that apply to:

 3         (a)  All new, existing, and proposed state-owned and

 4  state-leased buildings.

 5         (b)  All new, existing, and proposed hospitals, nursing

 6  homes, assisted living facilities, adult family-care homes,

 7  correctional facilities, public schools, transient public

 8  lodging establishments, public food service establishments,

 9  elevators, migrant labor camps, mobile home parks, lodging

10  parks, recreational vehicle parks, recreational camps,

11  residential and nonresidential child care facilities,

12  facilities for the developmentally disabled, motion picture

13  and television special effects productions, and self-service

14  gasoline stations, and hydrogen fueling, storage, and

15  production facilities for stationary fuel cells and vehicles,

16  including maintenance and repair facilities, of which

17  standards the State Fire Marshal is the final administrative

18  interpreting authority.

19  

20  In the event there is a dispute between the owners of the

21  buildings specified in paragraph (b) and a local authority

22  requiring a more stringent uniform firesafety standard for

23  sprinkler systems, the State Fire Marshal shall be the final

24  administrative interpreting authority and the State Fire

25  Marshal's interpretation regarding the uniform firesafety

26  standards shall be considered final agency action.

27         (4)(a)  The State Fire Marshal may adopt rules

28  pertaining to or applicable to any building, structure,

29  facility, condition, situation, or circumstance in which

30  hydrogen is being used, produced, or stored, or in any other

31  manner dealt with or treated as a fuel, which the State Fire

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    Florida Senate - 2005                           CS for SB 2074
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 1  Marshal finds are necessary to protect the public health,

 2  safety, and welfare and to protect the safety of persons and

 3  property in this state, including, but not limited to, the

 4  adoption of the most recent edition of the National Fire

 5  Protection Association's NFPA 1 and any other applicable code,

 6  publication, or standard.

 7         (b)  The State Fire Marshal may require by rule that

 8  any equipment used in conjunction with any use specified in

 9  paragraph (a) be listed by a nationally recognized testing

10  laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., or

11  Factory Mutual Laboratories, Inc. The State Fire Marshal may

12  adopt by rule procedures to determine whether a laboratory is

13  nationally recognized, taking into account the laboratory's

14  facilities, procedures, use of nationally recognized

15  standards, and any other criteria reasonably calculated to

16  reach an informed determination.

17         Section 13.  Subsection (1) of section 366.075, Florida

18  Statutes, is amended to read:

19         366.075  Experimental and transitional rates.--

20         (1)  The commission is authorized to approve rates on

21  an experimental or transitional basis for any public utility

22  to encourage energy conservation or to encourage efficiency,

23  or use of energy from a renewable energy resource, as that

24  term is defined in s. 377.703(2). The application of such

25  rates may be for limited geographic areas and for a limited

26  period.

27         Section 14.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2005.

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    Florida Senate - 2005                           CS for SB 2074
    577-2151-05




 1          STATEMENT OF SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES CONTAINED IN
                       COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
 2                         Senate Bill 2074

 3                                 

 4  The committee substitute adds a section to authorize the
    Public Service Commission to approve experimental or
 5  transitional rates for any public utility to encourage the use
    of energy from a renewable energy resource.
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