HB 0923

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to the St. Lucie County Fire District;
3	establishing an exemption from payment to redevelopment
4	trust funds created by community redevelopment agencies;
5	providing for the St. Lucie County Fire District to
6	appropriate to the redevelopment trust fund to the extent
7	funds are insufficient to cover debt service on any bonds
8	authorized and issued before the effective date of the act
9	but not after the effective date of the act; providing an
10	effective date.
11
12	WHEREAS, the St. Lucie County Fire District is solely
13	responsible for fire suppression, prevention, rescue, and
14	emergency medical services throughout St. Lucie County, and
15	WHEREAS, the St. Lucie County Fire District derives a
16	substantial portion of its revenues from ad valorem taxes and a
17	substantial portion of its expenses are personnel costs, and
18	WHEREAS, the implementation of community redevelopment
19	plans by community redevelopment agencies in St. Lucie County
20	creates an increasing demand for fire and rescue services
21	without providing the revenues to support such services, and
22	WHEREAS, the continued payments to redevelopment trust
23	funds created by community redevelopment agencies in St. Lucie
24	County will adversely affect the ability of the St. Lucie County
25	Fire District to provide critical public safety services to the
26	citizens and visitors of St. Lucie County, NOW, THEREFORE,
27
28	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
29
30	Section 1.  Effective October 1, 2007, and thereafter, the
31	St. Lucie County Fire District shall be exempt from payment to
32	redevelopment trust funds created by community redevelopment
33	agencies in St. Lucie County.
34	Section 2.  Notwithstanding the exemption commencing
35	October 1, 2007, as provided in section 1, for bonds authorized
36	and issued under section 163.385, Florida Statutes, prior to the
37	effective date of this act and which remain outstanding, the St.
38	Lucie County Fire District shall appropriate to the
39	redevelopment trust fund established for such outstanding bonds
40	an amount sufficient to pay, when due, its annual pro rata share
41	to cover debt service, to the extent funds deposited into the
42	redevelopment trust fund by other taxing authorities pursuant to
43	section 163.387, Florida Statutes, are insufficient to cover
44	debt service. The obligation of the St. Lucie County Fire
45	District to make such appropriations to a redevelopment trust
46	fund for any debt service deficiency shall not arise for any
47	bonds authorized and issued subsequent to the effective date of
48	this act, pursuant to section 163.385, Florida Statutes.
49	Section 3.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.

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