| 1 | A bill to be entitled | 
| 2 | An act relating to affordable housing; amending s. | 
| 3 | 163.3177, F.S., relating to the housing element of a local | 
| 4 | government comprehensive plan; requiring certain counties | 
| 5 | to adopt a plan for ensuring affordable workforce housing; | 
| 6 | providing that a local government that fails to comply | 
| 7 | with such requirement is ineligible to receive state | 
| 8 | housing assistance grants; amending s. 163.3180, F.S.; | 
| 9 | providing an exemption from transportation concurrency for | 
| 10 | certain workforce housing units; amending s. 163.3184, | 
| 11 | F.S.; authorizing certain local government comprehensive | 
| 12 | plan amendments to be expedited; providing requirements | 
| 13 | for amendment notices; requiring a public hearing; | 
| 14 | amending s. 163.3187, F.S.; authorizing certain local | 
| 15 | government comprehensive plan amendments to be made more | 
| 16 | than twice a year; amending s. 163.3191, F.S.; authorizing | 
| 17 | a local government to adopt amendments to the local | 
| 18 | comprehensive plan in order to integrate a port master | 
| 19 | plan with the local comprehensive plan; providing a | 
| 20 | limitation; creating ss. 197.307, 197.3071, 197.3072, | 
| 21 | 197.3073, 197.3074, 197.3075, 197.3076, 197.3077, | 
| 22 | 197.3078, and 197.3079, F.S.; authorizing a county | 
| 23 | commission or municipality to adopt an ordinance providing | 
| 24 | for the deferral of ad valorem taxes and non-ad valorem | 
| 25 | assessments for affordable rental housing property under | 
| 26 | certain conditions; requiring the tax collector to provide | 
| 27 | certain notices to taxpayers about deferrals; providing | 
| 28 | specifications for such ordinances; providing eligibility | 
| 29 | requirements; authorizing a property owner to defer | 
| 30 | payment of ad valorem taxes and certain assessments; | 
| 31 | providing circumstances in which taxes and assessments may | 
| 32 | not be deferred; specifying the rate for deferment; | 
| 33 | providing that the taxes, assessments, and interest | 
| 34 | deferred constitute a prior lien on the property; | 
| 35 | providing an application process; providing notice | 
| 36 | requirements for applications that are not approved for | 
| 37 | deferment; providing an appeals process; requiring | 
| 38 | applications for deferral to contain a list of outstanding | 
| 39 | liens; providing the date for calculating taxes due and | 
| 40 | payable; requiring that a property owner furnish proof of | 
| 41 | certain insurance coverage under certain conditions; | 
| 42 | requiring the tax collector and the property owner to | 
| 43 | notify the property appraiser of parcels for which taxes | 
| 44 | and assessments have been deferred; requiring the property | 
| 45 | appraiser to notify the tax collector of changes in | 
| 46 | ownership or use of tax-deferred properties; providing | 
| 47 | requirements for tax certificates for deferred payment; | 
| 48 | providing the rate of interest; providing circumstances in | 
| 49 | which deferrals cease; requiring the property appraiser to | 
| 50 | notify the tax collector of deferrals that have ceased; | 
| 51 | requiring the tax collector to collect taxes, assessments | 
| 52 | and interest due; requiring the tax collector to notify | 
| 53 | the property owner of due taxes on tax-deferred property | 
| 54 | under certain conditions; requiring the tax collector to | 
| 55 | sell a tax certificate under certain circumstances; | 
| 56 | specifying persons who may pay deferred taxes, assessments | 
| 57 | and accrued interest; requiring the tax collector to | 
| 58 | maintain a record of payment and to distribute payments; | 
| 59 | providing for construction of provisions authorizing the | 
| 60 | deferments; providing penalties; amending s. 253.0341, | 
| 61 | F.S., requiring the Board of Trustees of the Internal | 
| 62 | Improvement Trust Fund to convey certain property; | 
| 63 | restricting the use of property to be conveyed; providing | 
| 64 | a consideration for conveyance; amending s. 380.06, F.S.; | 
| 65 | providing that all phase, buildout, and expiration dates | 
| 66 | for projects that are developments of regional impact and | 
| 67 | under active construction on a specified date are extended | 
| 68 | for 3 years; providing an exemption from further | 
| 69 | development-of-regional-impact review; amending s. | 
| 70 | 380.0651, F.S.; revising certain developments of regional | 
| 71 | impact statewide guidelines and standards; amending s. | 
| 72 | 420.504, F.S.; providing that the corporation is a state | 
| 73 | agency for purposes of the state allocation pool; | 
| 74 | authorizing the corporation to provide notice of internal | 
| 75 | review committee meetings by publication on an Internet | 
| 76 | website; providing that the corporation is not governed by | 
| 77 | certain provisions relating to corporations not for | 
| 78 | profit; amending s. 420.506, F.S.; deleting a provision | 
| 79 | relating to lease of certain state employees; amending s. | 
| 80 | 420.5061, F.S.; deleting obsolete provisions; removing a | 
| 81 | provision requiring all assets and liabilities and rights | 
| 82 | and obligations of the Florida Housing Finance Agency to | 
| 83 | be transferred to the corporation; providing that the | 
| 84 | corporation is the legal successor to the agency; removing | 
| 85 | a provision requiring all state property in use by the | 
| 86 | agency to be transferred to and become the property of the | 
| 87 | corporation; amending s. 420.507, F.S.; requiring that an | 
| 88 | agreement financing affordable housing be recorded in the | 
| 89 | official records of the county where the real property is | 
| 90 | located; providing that such agreement is a state land use | 
| 91 | regulation; amending s. 420.5087, F.S.; authorizing the | 
| 92 | Florida Housing Finance Corporation to provide partially | 
| 93 | forgivable loans to nonprofit organizations that serve | 
| 94 | extremely-low-income elderly tenants; providing criteria; | 
| 95 | amending s. 420.5095, F.S.; specifying the content of | 
| 96 | rules for reviewing loan applications for workforce | 
| 97 | housing projects; requiring the corporation to establish a | 
| 98 | committee for reviewing loan applications; providing for | 
| 99 | membership; providing powers and duties of the committee; | 
| 100 | requiring the corporation's board of directors to make the | 
| 101 | final decisions concerning ranking and program | 
| 102 | participants; specifying areas where local governments may | 
| 103 | use program funds; expanding the types of projects that | 
| 104 | may receive priority funding; requiring that the | 
| 105 | processing of certain approvals of development orders or | 
| 106 | development permits be expedited; providing loan applicant | 
| 107 | requirements; revising reporting requirements; amending s. | 
| 108 | 420.511, F.S.; requiring that the corporation's annual | 
| 109 | report include information on the Community Workforce | 
| 110 | Housing Innovation Pilot Program; amending s. 420.513, | 
| 111 | F.S.; providing exemption from taxes for certain | 
| 112 | instruments issued in connection with the financing of | 
| 113 | certain housing; amending s. 420.526, F.S.; revising the | 
| 114 | cap on predevelopment loans; amending s. 420.9076, F.S.; | 
| 115 | increasing affordable housing advisory committee | 
| 116 | membership; revising membership criteria; authorizing the | 
| 117 | use of fewer members under certain circumstances; revising | 
| 118 | and providing duties of the advisory committee; creating | 
| 119 | s. 624.46226, F.S.; authorizing certain public housing | 
| 120 | authorities to create a self-insurance fund; exempting | 
| 121 | such public housing authorities that create a self- | 
| 122 | insurance fund from certain assessments; providing an | 
| 123 | effective date. | 
| 124 | 
 | 
| 125 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: | 
| 126 | 
 | 
| 127 | Section 1.  Paragraph (f) of subsection (6) of section | 
| 128 | 163.3177, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: | 
| 129 | 163.3177  Required and optional elements of comprehensive | 
| 130 | plan; studies and surveys.-- | 
| 131 | (6)  In addition to the requirements of subsections (1)-(5) | 
| 132 | and (12), the comprehensive plan shall include the following | 
| 133 | elements: | 
| 134 | (f)1.  A housing element consisting of standards, plans, | 
| 135 | and principles to be followed in: | 
| 136 | a.  The provision of housing for all current and | 
| 137 | anticipated future residents of the jurisdiction. | 
| 138 | b.  The elimination of substandard dwelling conditions. | 
| 139 | c.  The structural and aesthetic improvement of existing | 
| 140 | housing. | 
| 141 | d.  The provision of adequate sites for future housing, | 
| 142 | including affordable workforce housing as defined in s. | 
| 143 | 380.0651(3)(j), housing for low-income, very low-income, and | 
| 144 | moderate-income families, mobile homes, and group home | 
| 145 | facilities and foster care facilities, with supporting | 
| 146 | infrastructure and public facilities. | 
| 147 | e.  Provision for relocation housing and identification of | 
| 148 | historically significant and other housing for purposes of | 
| 149 | conservation, rehabilitation, or replacement. | 
| 150 | f.  The formulation of housing implementation programs. | 
| 151 | g.  The creation or preservation of affordable housing to | 
| 152 | minimize the need for additional local services and avoid the | 
| 153 | concentration of affordable housing units only in specific areas | 
| 154 | of the jurisdiction. | 
| 155 | h.  By July 1, 2008, each county in which the gap between | 
| 156 | the buying power of a family of four and the median county home | 
| 157 | sale price exceeds $170,000, as determined by the Florida | 
| 158 | Housing Finance Corporation, and which is not designated as an | 
| 159 | area of critical state concern shall adopt a plan for ensuring | 
| 160 | affordable workforce housing. At a minimum, the plan shall | 
| 161 | identify adequate sites for such housing. For purposes of this | 
| 162 | sub-subparagraph, the term "workforce housing" means housing | 
| 163 | that is affordable to natural persons or families whose total | 
| 164 | household income does not exceed 140 percent of the area median | 
| 165 | income, adjusted for household size. | 
| 166 | i.  Failure by a local government to comply with the | 
| 167 | requirement in sub-subparagraph h. will result in the local | 
| 168 | government being ineligible to receive any state housing | 
| 169 | assistance grants until the requirement of sub-subparagraph h. | 
| 170 | is met. | 
| 171 | 
 | 
| 172 | The goals, objectives, and policies of the housing element must | 
| 173 | be based on the data and analysis prepared on housing needs, | 
| 174 | including the affordable housing needs assessment.  State and | 
| 175 | federal housing plans prepared on behalf of the local government | 
| 176 | must be consistent with the goals, objectives, and policies of | 
| 177 | the housing element.  Local governments are encouraged to | 
| 178 | utilize job training, job creation, and economic solutions to | 
| 179 | address a portion of their affordable housing concerns. | 
| 180 | 2.  To assist local governments in housing data collection | 
| 181 | and analysis and assure uniform and consistent information | 
| 182 | regarding the state's housing needs, the state land planning | 
| 183 | agency shall conduct an affordable housing needs assessment for | 
| 184 | all local jurisdictions on a schedule that coordinates the | 
| 185 | implementation of the needs assessment with the evaluation and | 
| 186 | appraisal reports required by s. 163.3191.  Each local | 
| 187 | government shall utilize the data and analysis from the needs | 
| 188 | assessment as one basis for the housing element of its local | 
| 189 | comprehensive plan.  The agency shall allow a local government | 
| 190 | the option to perform its own needs assessment, if it uses the | 
| 191 | methodology established by the agency by rule. | 
| 192 | Section 2.  Subsection (17) is added to section 163.3180, | 
| 193 | Florida Statutes, to read: | 
| 194 | 163.3180  Concurrency.-- | 
| 195 | (17)  A local government and the developer of affordable | 
| 196 | workforce housing units developed in accordance with s. | 
| 197 | 380.06(19) or s. 380.0651(3) may identify an employment center | 
| 198 | or centers in close proximity to the affordable workforce | 
| 199 | housing units. If at least 50 percent of the units are occupied | 
| 200 | by an employee or employees of an identified employment center | 
| 201 | or centers, all of the affordable workforce housing units are | 
| 202 | exempt from transportation concurrency requirements and the | 
| 203 | local government may not reduce any transportation trip- | 
| 204 | generation entitlements of an approved development-of-regional- | 
| 205 | impact development order. As used in this subsection, the term | 
| 206 | "close proximity" means 5 miles from the nearest point of the | 
| 207 | development of regional impact to the nearest point of the | 
| 208 | employment center and the term "employment center" means a place | 
| 209 | of employment that employs at least 25 or more full-time | 
| 210 | employees. | 
| 211 | Section 3.  Subsection (19) is added to section 163.3184, | 
| 212 | Florida Statutes, to read: | 
| 213 | 163.3184  Process for adoption of comprehensive plan or | 
| 214 | plan amendment.-- | 
| 215 | (19)  Any local government that identifies in its | 
| 216 | comprehensive plan the types of housing developments and | 
| 217 | conditions for which it will consider plan amendments that are | 
| 218 | consistent with the local housing incentive strategies | 
| 219 | identified in s. 420.9076 and authorized by the local | 
| 220 | government, may expedite consideration of such plan amendments. | 
| 221 | At least 30 days prior to adopting a plan amendment pursuant to | 
| 222 | this subsection, the local government shall notify the state | 
| 223 | land planning agency of its intent to adopt such an amendment, | 
| 224 | and the notice shall include the local government's evaluation | 
| 225 | of site suitability and availability of facilities and services. | 
| 226 | A plan amendment considered under this subsection shall require | 
| 227 | only a single public hearing before the local governing body, | 
| 228 | which shall be a plan amendment adoption hearing as described in | 
| 229 | subsection (7). The public notice of the hearing required under | 
| 230 | subparagraph (15)(b)2. must include a statement that the local | 
| 231 | government intends to use the expedited adoption process | 
| 232 | authorized under this subsection. The state land planning agency | 
| 233 | shall issue its notice of intent required under subsection (8) | 
| 234 | within 30 days after determining that the amendment package is | 
| 235 | complete. Any further proceedings shall be governed by | 
| 236 | subsections (9) through (16). | 
| 237 | Section 4.  Paragraph (p) is added to subsection (1) of | 
| 238 | section 163.3187, Florida Statutes, to read: | 
| 239 | 163.3187  Amendment of adopted comprehensive plan.-- | 
| 240 | (1)  Amendments to comprehensive plans adopted pursuant to | 
| 241 | this part may be made not more than two times during any | 
| 242 | calendar year, except: | 
| 243 | (p)  Any local government comprehensive plan amendment that | 
| 244 | is consistent with the local housing incentive strategies | 
| 245 | identified in s. 420.9076 and authorized by the local | 
| 246 | government. | 
| 247 | Section 5.  Subsection (14) is added to section 163.3191, | 
| 248 | Florida Statutes, to read: | 
| 249 | 163.3191  Evaluation and appraisal of comprehensive plan.-- | 
| 250 | (14)  The requirement of subsection (10) prohibiting a | 
| 251 | local government from adopting amendments to the local | 
| 252 | comprehensive plan until the evaluation and appraisal report | 
| 253 | update amendments have been adopted and transmitted to the state | 
| 254 | land planning agency does not apply to a plan amendment proposed | 
| 255 | for adoption by the appropriate local government as defined in | 
| 256 | s. 163.3178(2)(k) in order to integrate a port comprehensive | 
| 257 | master plan with the coastal management element of the local | 
| 258 | comprehensive plan as required by s. 163.3178(2)(k) if the port | 
| 259 | comprehensive master plan or the proposed plan amendment does | 
| 260 | not cause or contribute to the failure of the local government | 
| 261 | to comply with the requirements of the evaluation and appraisal | 
| 262 | report. | 
| 263 | Section 6.  Sections 197.307, 197.3071, 197.3072, 197.3073, | 
| 264 | 197.3074, 197.3075, 197.3076, 197.3077, 197.3078, and 197.3079, | 
| 265 | Florida Statutes, are created to read: | 
| 266 | 197.307  Deferrals for ad valorem taxes and non-ad valorem | 
| 267 | assessments on affordable rental housing property.-- | 
| 268 | (1)  A board of county commissioners or the governing | 
| 269 | authority of a municipality may adopt an ordinance to allow for | 
| 270 | ad valorem tax deferrals on affordable rental housing if the | 
| 271 | owners are engaging in the operation, rehabilitation, or | 
| 272 | renovation of such properties in accordance with the guidelines | 
| 273 | provided in part VI of chapter 420. | 
| 274 | (2)  The board of county commissioners or the governing | 
| 275 | authority of a municipality may also, by ordinance, authorize | 
| 276 | the deferral of non-ad valorem assessments, as defined in s. | 
| 277 | 197.3632, on affordable rental housing. | 
| 278 | (3)  The ordinance must designate the percentage or amount | 
| 279 | of the deferral and the type and location of affordable rental | 
| 280 | housing property for which a deferral may be granted. The | 
| 281 | ordinance may also require the property to be located within a | 
| 282 | particular geographic area or areas of the county or | 
| 283 | municipality. | 
| 284 | (4)  The ordinance must specify that the deferral applies | 
| 285 | only to taxes and assessments levied by the unit of government | 
| 286 | granting the deferral. However, a deferral may not be granted | 
| 287 | for taxes or non-ad valorem assessments levied for the payment | 
| 288 | of bonds or for taxes authorized by a vote of the electors | 
| 289 | pursuant to s. 9(b) or s. 12, Art. VII of the State | 
| 290 | Constitution. | 
| 291 | (5)  The ordinance must specify that any deferral granted | 
| 292 | remains in effect for the period for which it is granted | 
| 293 | regardless of any change in the authority of the county or | 
| 294 | municipality to grant the deferral. In order to retain the | 
| 295 | deferral, however, the use and ownership of the property as | 
| 296 | affordable rental housing must be maintained over the period for | 
| 297 | which the deferral is granted. | 
| 298 | (6)  If an application for tax deferral is granted on | 
| 299 | property that is located in a community redevelopment area as | 
| 300 | defined in s. 163.340: | 
| 301 | (a)  The amount of taxes eligible for deferral must be | 
| 302 | reduced, as provided for in paragraph (b), if: | 
| 303 | 1.  The community redevelopment agency has previously | 
| 304 | issued instruments of indebtedness which are secured by | 
| 305 | increment revenues on deposit in the community redevelopment | 
| 306 | trust fund; and | 
| 307 | 2.  The instruments of indebtedness are associated with the | 
| 308 | real property applying for the deferral. | 
| 309 | (b)  The tax deferral does not apply to an amount of taxes | 
| 310 | equal to the amount that must be deposited into the community | 
| 311 | redevelopment trust fund by the entity granting the deferral | 
| 312 | based upon the taxable value of the property upon which the | 
| 313 | deferral is being granted. Once all instruments of indebtedness | 
| 314 | that existed at the time the deferral was originally granted are | 
| 315 | no longer outstanding or have otherwise been defeased, this | 
| 316 | paragraph no longer applies. | 
| 317 | (c)  If a portion of the taxes on a property are not | 
| 318 | eligible for deferral as provided under paragraph (b), the | 
| 319 | community redevelopment agency shall notify the property owner | 
| 320 | and the tax collector 1 year before the debt instruments that | 
| 321 | prevented such taxes from being deferred are no longer | 
| 322 | outstanding or otherwise defeased. | 
| 323 | (d)  The tax collector shall notify a community | 
| 324 | redevelopment agency of any tax deferral that has been granted | 
| 325 | on property located within the agency's community redevelopment | 
| 326 | area. | 
| 327 | (e)  Issuance of debt obligation after the date a deferral | 
| 328 | has been granted does not reduce the amount of taxes eligible | 
| 329 | for deferral. | 
| 330 | (7)  The tax collector shall notify: | 
| 331 | (a)  The taxpayer of each parcel appearing on the real | 
| 332 | property assessment roll of the law allowing the deferral of | 
| 333 | taxes, non-ad valorem assessments, and interest under ss. | 
| 334 | 197.307-197.3079. Such notice shall be printed on the back of | 
| 335 | envelopes used to mail the notice of taxes as provided under s. | 
| 336 | 197.322(3). Such notice shall read: | 
| 337 | 
 | 
| 338 | NOTICE TO TAXPAYERS OWNING | 
| 339 | AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING PROPERTY | 
| 340 | 
 | 
| 341 | If your property meets certain conditions you may | 
| 342 | qualify for a deferred tax payment plan on your | 
| 343 | affordable rental housing property.  An application | 
| 344 | to determine your eligibility is available in the | 
| 345 | county tax collector's office. | 
| 346 | 
 | 
| 347 | (b)  On or before November 1 of each year, the tax | 
| 348 | collector shall notify each taxpayer for whom a tax deferral has | 
| 349 | been previously granted of the accumulated sum of deferred | 
| 350 | taxes, non-ad valorem assessments, and interest outstanding. | 
| 351 | 197.3071  Eligibility for tax deferral.--The tax deferral | 
| 352 | authorized by this section is applicable only on a prorata basis | 
| 353 | to the ad valorem taxes levied on residential units within a | 
| 354 | property which meet the following conditions: | 
| 355 | (1)  Units for which the monthly rent along with taxes, | 
| 356 | insurance, and utilities does not exceed 30 percent of the | 
| 357 | median adjusted gross annual income as defined in s. 420.0004 | 
| 358 | for the households described in subsection (2). | 
| 359 | (2)  Units that are occupied by extremely-low-income | 
| 360 | persons, very-low-income persons, low-income persons, or | 
| 361 | moderate-income persons as these terms are defined in s. | 
| 362 | 420.0004. | 
| 363 | 197.3072  Deferral for affordable rental housing | 
| 364 | properties.-- | 
| 365 | (1)  Any property owner in a jurisdiction that has adopted | 
| 366 | an ad valorem tax-deferral ordinance or a deferral of non-ad | 
| 367 | valorem assessments ordinance pursuant to s. 197.307 and who | 
| 368 | owns an eligible affordable rental housing property as described | 
| 369 | in s. 197.3071 may apply for a deferral of payment by filing an | 
| 370 | annual application for deferral with the county tax collector on | 
| 371 | or before January 31 following the year in which the taxes and | 
| 372 | non-ad valorem assessments are assessed. The property owner has | 
| 373 | the burden to affirmatively demonstrate compliance with the | 
| 374 | requirements of this section. | 
| 375 | (2)  Approval by the tax collector defers that portion of | 
| 376 | the combined total of ad valorem taxes and any non-ad valorem | 
| 377 | assessments plus interest that are authorized to be deferred by | 
| 378 | an ordinance enacted pursuant to s. 197.307. | 
| 379 | (3)  Deferral may not be granted if: | 
| 380 | (a)  The total amount of deferred taxes, non-ad valorem | 
| 381 | assessments, and interest plus the total amount of all other | 
| 382 | unsatisfied liens on the property exceeds 85 percent of the | 
| 383 | assessed value of the property; or | 
| 384 | (b)  The primary financing on the affordable rental housing | 
| 385 | property is for an amount that exceeds 70 percent of the | 
| 386 | assessed value of the property. | 
| 387 | (4)  The amount of taxes deferred, non-ad valorem | 
| 388 | assessments, and interest shall accrue interest at a rate equal | 
| 389 | to the annually compounded rate of 3 percent plus the Consumer | 
| 390 | Price Index for All Urban Consumers; however, the interest rate | 
| 391 | may not exceed 9.5 percent. | 
| 392 | (5)  The deferred taxes, non-ad valorem assessments, and | 
| 393 | interest constitute a prior lien on the affordable rental | 
| 394 | housing property and shall attach as of the date and in the same | 
| 395 | manner and be collected as other liens for taxes as provided for | 
| 396 | under this chapter, but such deferred taxes, non-ad valorem | 
| 397 | assessments, and interest are due, payable, and delinquent as | 
| 398 | provided in ss. 197.307-197.3079. | 
| 399 | 197.3073  Deferral application.-- | 
| 400 | (1)  The application for a deferral of ad valorem taxes and | 
| 401 | non-ad valorem assessments must be made annually upon a form | 
| 402 | prescribed by the department and furnished by the county tax | 
| 403 | collector. The application form must be signed under oath by the | 
| 404 | property owner applying for the deferral before an officer | 
| 405 | authorized by the state to administer oaths. The application | 
| 406 | form must provide notice to the property owner of the manner in | 
| 407 | which interest is computed. The application form must contain an | 
| 408 | explanation of the conditions to be met for approval of the | 
| 409 | deferral and the conditions under which deferred taxes, non-ad | 
| 410 | valorem assessments, and interest become due, payable, and | 
| 411 | delinquent. Each application must clearly state that all | 
| 412 | deferrals pursuant to this section constitute a lien on the | 
| 413 | property for which the deferral is granted. The tax collector | 
| 414 | may require the property owner to submit any other evidence and | 
| 415 | documentation considered necessary by the tax collector in | 
| 416 | reviewing the application. | 
| 417 | (2)  The tax collector shall consider and render his or her | 
| 418 | findings, determinations, and decision on each annual | 
| 419 | application for a deferral for affordable rental housing within | 
| 420 | 45 days after the date the application is filed. The tax | 
| 421 | collector shall exercise reasonable discretion based upon | 
| 422 | applicable information available under this section. The | 
| 423 | determinations and findings of the tax collector are not quasi | 
| 424 | judicial and are subject exclusively to review by the value | 
| 425 | adjustment board as provided by this section. A tax collector | 
| 426 | who finds that a property owner is entitled to the deferral | 
| 427 | shall approve the application and file the application in the | 
| 428 | permanent records. | 
| 429 | (a)  A tax collector who finds that a property owner is not | 
| 430 | entitled to the deferral shall send a notice of disapproval | 
| 431 | within 45 days after the date the application is filed, giving | 
| 432 | reasons for the disapproval. The notice must be sent by personal | 
| 433 | delivery or registered mail to the mailing address given by the | 
| 434 | property owner in the manner in which the original notice was | 
| 435 | served upon the property owner and must be filed among the | 
| 436 | permanent records of the tax collector's office. The original | 
| 437 | notice of disapproval sent to the property owner shall advise | 
| 438 | the property owner of the right to appeal the decision of the | 
| 439 | tax collector to the value adjustment board and provide the | 
| 440 | procedures for filing an appeal. | 
| 441 | (b)  An appeal by the property owner of the decision of the | 
| 442 | tax collector to deny the deferral must be submitted to the | 
| 443 | value adjustment board on a form prescribed by the department | 
| 444 | and furnished by the tax collector. The appeal must be filed | 
| 445 | with the value adjustment board within 20 days after the | 
| 446 | applicant's receipt of the notice of disapproval, and the board | 
| 447 | must approve or disapprove the appeal within 30 days after | 
| 448 | receipt of the appeal. The value adjustment board shall review | 
| 449 | the application and the evidence presented to the tax collector | 
| 450 | upon which the property owner based a claim for deferral and, at | 
| 451 | the election of the property owner, shall hear the property | 
| 452 | owner in person, or by agent on the property owner's behalf, | 
| 453 | concerning his or her right to the deferral. The value | 
| 454 | adjustment board shall reverse the decision of the tax collector | 
| 455 | and grant a deferral to the property owner if, in its judgment, | 
| 456 | the property owner is entitled to the deferral or shall affirm | 
| 457 | the decision of the tax collector. Action by the value | 
| 458 | adjustment board is final unless the property owner or tax | 
| 459 | collector or other lienholder, within 15 days after the date of | 
| 460 | disapproval of the application by the board, files for a de novo | 
| 461 | proceeding for a declaratory judgment or other appropriate | 
| 462 | proceeding in the circuit court of the county in which the | 
| 463 | property is located. | 
| 464 | (3)  Each application for deferral must contain a list of, | 
| 465 | and the current value of, all outstanding liens on the property | 
| 466 | for which a deferral is requested. | 
| 467 | (4)  For approved applications, the date the deferral | 
| 468 | application is received by the tax collector shall be the date | 
| 469 | used in calculating taxes due and payable at the expiration of | 
| 470 | the tax deferral net of discounts for early payment. | 
| 471 | (5)  If proof has not been furnished with a prior | 
| 472 | application, each property owner shall furnish proof of fire and | 
| 473 | extended coverage insurance in an amount that is in excess of | 
| 474 | the sum of all outstanding liens including a lien for the | 
| 475 | deferred taxes, non-ad valorem assessments, and interest with a | 
| 476 | loss payable clause to the county tax collector. | 
| 477 | (6)  The tax collector shall notify the property appraiser | 
| 478 | in writing of those parcels for which taxes or assessments have | 
| 479 | been deferred. | 
| 480 | (7)  The property appraiser shall promptly notify the tax | 
| 481 | collector of changes in ownership or use of properties that have | 
| 482 | been granted a deferral. | 
| 483 | (8)  The property owner shall promptly notify the tax | 
| 484 | collector of changes in ownership or use of properties that have | 
| 485 | been granted tax deferrals. | 
| 486 | 197.3074  Deferred payment tax certificates.-- | 
| 487 | (1)  The tax collector shall notify each local governing | 
| 488 | body of the amount of taxes and non-ad valorem assessments | 
| 489 | deferred which would otherwise have been collected for the | 
| 490 | governing body. The tax collector shall, at the time of the tax | 
| 491 | certificate sale held under s. 197.432 strike each certificate | 
| 492 | off to the county. Certificates issued under this section are | 
| 493 | exempt from the public sale of tax certificates held pursuant to | 
| 494 | s. 197.432. | 
| 495 | (2)  The certificates held by the county shall bear | 
| 496 | interest at a rate equal to the annually compounded rate of 3 | 
| 497 | percent plus the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers; | 
| 498 | however, the interest rate may not exceed 9.5 percent. | 
| 499 | 197.3075  Change in use or ownership of property.-- | 
| 500 | (1)  If there is a change in use or ownership of the | 
| 501 | property that has been granted an ad valorem tax or non-ad | 
| 502 | valorem assessment deferral such that the property owner is no | 
| 503 | longer entitled to claim the property as an affordable rental | 
| 504 | housing property, or if there is a change in the legal or | 
| 505 | beneficial ownership of the property, or if the owner fails to | 
| 506 | maintain the required fire and extended insurance coverage, the | 
| 507 | total amount of deferred taxes, non-ad valorem assessments, and | 
| 508 | interest for all previous years becomes due and payable November | 
| 509 | 1 of the year in which the change in use or ownership occurs or | 
| 510 | on the date failure to maintain insurance occurs, and is | 
| 511 | delinquent on April 1 of the year following the year in which | 
| 512 | the change in use or ownership or failure to maintain insurance | 
| 513 | occurs. | 
| 514 | (2)  Whenever the property appraiser discovers that there | 
| 515 | has been a change in the use or ownership of the property that | 
| 516 | has been granted a deferral, the property appraiser shall notify | 
| 517 | the tax collector in writing of the date such change occurs, and | 
| 518 | the tax collector shall collect any taxes, non-ad valorem | 
| 519 | assessments, and interest due or delinquent. | 
| 520 | (3)  During any year in which the total amount of deferred | 
| 521 | taxes, non-ad valorem assessments, interest, and all other | 
| 522 | unsatisfied liens on the property exceeds 85 percent of the | 
| 523 | assessed value of the property, the tax collector shall | 
| 524 | immediately notify the property owner that the portion of taxes, | 
| 525 | non-ad valorem assessments, and interest which exceeds 85 | 
| 526 | percent of the assessed value of the property is due and payable | 
| 527 | within 30 days after receipt of the notice. Failure to pay the | 
| 528 | amount due shall cause the total amount of deferred taxes, non- | 
| 529 | ad valorem assessments, and interest to become delinquent. | 
| 530 | (4)  If on or before June 1 following the date the taxes | 
| 531 | deferred under this subsection become delinquent, the tax | 
| 532 | collector shall sell a tax certificate for the delinquent taxes | 
| 533 | and interest in the manner provided by s. 197.432. | 
| 534 | 197.3076  Prepayment of deferred taxes and non-ad valorem | 
| 535 | assessments.-- | 
| 536 | (1)  All or part of the deferred taxes, non-ad valorem | 
| 537 | assessments, and accrued interest may at any time be paid to the | 
| 538 | tax collector by: | 
| 539 | (a)  The property owner; or | 
| 540 | (b)  The property owner's next of kin, heir, child, or any | 
| 541 | person having or claiming a legal or equitable interest in the | 
| 542 | property, if an objection is not made by the owner within 30 | 
| 543 | days after the tax collector notifies the property owner of the | 
| 544 | fact that such payment has been tendered. | 
| 545 | (2)  Any partial payment made pursuant to this section | 
| 546 | shall be applied first to accrued interest. | 
| 547 | 197.3077  Distribution of payments.--When any deferred tax, | 
| 548 | non-ad valorem assessment, or interest is collected, the tax | 
| 549 | collector shall maintain a record of the payment, setting forth | 
| 550 | a description of the property and the amount of taxes or | 
| 551 | interest collected for the property. The tax collector shall | 
| 552 | distribute payments received in accordance with the procedures | 
| 553 | for distributing ad valorem taxes, non-ad valorem assessments, | 
| 554 | or redemption moneys as prescribed in this chapter. | 
| 555 | 197.3078  Construction.--This section does not prevent the | 
| 556 | collection of personal property taxes that become a lien against | 
| 557 | tax-deferred property, or defer payment of special assessments | 
| 558 | to benefited property other than those specifically allowed to | 
| 559 | be deferred, or affect any provision of any mortgage or other | 
| 560 | instrument relating to property requiring a person to pay ad | 
| 561 | valorem taxes or non-ad valorem assessments. | 
| 562 | 197.3079  Penalties.-- | 
| 563 | (1)  The following penalties shall be imposed on any person | 
| 564 | who willfully files information required under this section | 
| 565 | which is incorrect: | 
| 566 | (a)  The person shall pay the total amount of deferred | 
| 567 | taxes, non-ad valorem assessments, and interest which shall | 
| 568 | immediately become due; | 
| 569 | (b)  The person shall be disqualified from filing a tax- | 
| 570 | deferral application for the next 3 years; and | 
| 571 | (c)  The person shall pay a penalty of 25 percent of the | 
| 572 | total amount of taxes, non-ad valorem assessments, and interest | 
| 573 | deferred. | 
| 574 | (2)  Any person against whom penalties have been imposed | 
| 575 | may appeal to the value adjustment board within 30 days after | 
| 576 | the date the penalties were imposed. | 
| 577 | Section 7.  Subsection (4) is added to section 253.0341, | 
| 578 | Florida Statutes, to read: | 
| 579 | 253.0341  Surplus of state-owned lands to counties or local | 
| 580 | governments.--Counties and local governments may submit | 
| 581 | surplusing requests for state-owned lands directly to the board | 
| 582 | of trustees. County or local government requests for the state | 
| 583 | to surplus conservation or nonconservation lands, whether for | 
| 584 | purchase or exchange, shall be expedited throughout the | 
| 585 | surplusing process. Property jointly acquired by the state and | 
| 586 | other entities shall not be surplused without the consent of all | 
| 587 | joint owners. | 
| 588 | (4)  Notwithstanding the requirements of this section and | 
| 589 | the requirements of s. 253.034 which provides a surplus process | 
| 590 | for the disposal of state lands, the board shall convey to | 
| 591 | Miami-Dade County title to the property on which the Graham | 
| 592 | Building, which houses the offices of the Miami-Dade State | 
| 593 | Attorney, is located. By January 1, 2008, the board shall convey | 
| 594 | fee simple title to the property to Miami-Dade County for a | 
| 595 | consideration of one dollar. The deed conveying title to Miami- | 
| 596 | Dade County must contain restrictions that limit the use of the | 
| 597 | property for the purpose of providing workforce housing as | 
| 598 | defined in s. 420.5095, and to house the offices of the Miami- | 
| 599 | Dade State Attorney. Employees of the Miami-Dade State Attorney | 
| 600 | and the Miami-Dade Public Defender who apply for and meet the | 
| 601 | income qualifications for workforce housing shall receive | 
| 602 | preference over other qualified applicants. | 
| 603 | Section 8.  Paragraphs (c) and (e) of subsection (19) of | 
| 604 | section 380.06, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: | 
| 605 | 380.06  Developments of regional impact.-- | 
| 606 | (19)  SUBSTANTIAL DEVIATIONS.-- | 
| 607 | (c)  An extension of the date of buildout of a development, | 
| 608 | or any phase thereof, by more than 7 years shall be presumed to | 
| 609 | create a substantial deviation subject to further development- | 
| 610 | of-regional-impact review. An extension of the date of buildout, | 
| 611 | or any phase thereof, of more than 5 years but not more than 7 | 
| 612 | years shall be presumed not to create a substantial deviation. | 
| 613 | The extension of the date of buildout of an areawide development | 
| 614 | of regional impact by more than 5 years but less than 10 years | 
| 615 | is presumed not to create a substantial deviation. These | 
| 616 | presumptions may be rebutted by clear and convincing evidence at | 
| 617 | the public hearing held by the local government. An extension of | 
| 618 | 5 years or less is not a substantial deviation. For the purpose | 
| 619 | of calculating when a buildout or phase date has been exceeded, | 
| 620 | the time shall be tolled during the pendency of administrative | 
| 621 | or judicial proceedings relating to development permits. Any | 
| 622 | extension of the buildout date of a project or a phase thereof | 
| 623 | shall automatically extend the commencement date of the project, | 
| 624 | the termination date of the development order, the expiration | 
| 625 | date of the development of regional impact, and the phases | 
| 626 | thereof if applicable by a like period of time. In recognition | 
| 627 | of the 2007 real estate market conditions, all phase, buildout, | 
| 628 | and expiration dates for projects that are developments of | 
| 629 | regional impact and under active construction on July 1, 2007, | 
| 630 | are extended for 3 years regardless of any prior extension. The | 
| 631 | 3-year extension is not a substantial deviation, is not subject | 
| 632 | to further development-of-regional-impact review, and must not | 
| 633 | be considered when determining whether a subsequent extension is | 
| 634 | a substantial deviation under this subsection. | 
| 635 | Section 9.  Paragraph (f) of subsection (3) of section | 
| 636 | 380.0651, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: | 
| 637 | 380.0651  Statewide guidelines and standards.-- | 
| 638 | (3)  The following statewide guidelines and standards shall | 
| 639 | be applied in the manner described in s. 380.06(2) to determine | 
| 640 | whether the following developments shall be required to undergo | 
| 641 | development-of-regional-impact review: | 
| 642 | (f)  Hotel or motel development.-- | 
| 643 | 1.  Any proposed hotel or motel development that is planned | 
| 644 | to create or accommodate 350 or more units; or | 
| 645 | 2.  Any proposed hotel or motel development that is planned | 
| 646 | to create or accommodate 750 or more units, in a county with a | 
| 647 | population greater than 500,000 , and only in a geographic area | 
| 648 | specifically designated as highly suitable for increased | 
| 649 | threshold intensity in the approved local comprehensive plan and | 
| 650 | in the strategic regional policy plan. | 
| 651 | (e)1.  Except for a development order rendered pursuant to | 
| 652 | subsection (22) or subsection (25), a proposed change to a | 
| 653 | development order that individually or cumulatively with any | 
| 654 | previous change is less than any numerical criterion contained | 
| 655 | in subparagraphs (b)1.-13. and does not exceed any other | 
| 656 | criterion, or that involves an extension of the buildout date of | 
| 657 | a development, or any phase thereof, of less than 5 years is not | 
| 658 | subject to the public hearing requirements of subparagraph | 
| 659 | (f)3., and is not subject to a determination pursuant to | 
| 660 | subparagraph (f)5. Notice of the proposed change shall be made | 
| 661 | to the regional planning council and the state land planning | 
| 662 | agency. Such notice shall include a description of previous | 
| 663 | individual changes made to the development, including changes | 
| 664 | previously approved by the local government, and shall include | 
| 665 | appropriate amendments to the development order. | 
| 666 | 2.  The following changes, individually or cumulatively | 
| 667 | with any previous changes, are not substantial deviations: | 
| 668 | a.  Changes in the name of the project, developer, owner, | 
| 669 | or monitoring official. | 
| 670 | b.  Changes to a setback that do not affect noise buffers, | 
| 671 | environmental protection or mitigation areas, or archaeological | 
| 672 | or historical resources. | 
| 673 | c.  Changes to minimum lot sizes. | 
| 674 | d.  Changes in the configuration of internal roads that do | 
| 675 | not affect external access points. | 
| 676 | e.  Changes to the building design or orientation that stay | 
| 677 | approximately within the approved area designated for such | 
| 678 | building and parking lot, and which do not affect historical | 
| 679 | buildings designated as significant by the Division of | 
| 680 | Historical Resources of the Department of State. | 
| 681 | f.  Changes to increase the acreage in the development, | 
| 682 | provided that no development is proposed on the acreage to be | 
| 683 | added. | 
| 684 | g.  Changes to eliminate an approved land use, provided | 
| 685 | that there are no additional regional impacts. | 
| 686 | h.  Changes required to conform to permits approved by any | 
| 687 | federal, state, or regional permitting agency, provided that | 
| 688 | these changes do not create additional regional impacts. | 
| 689 | i.  Any renovation or redevelopment of development within a | 
| 690 | previously approved development of regional impact which does | 
| 691 | not change land use or increase density or intensity of use. | 
| 692 | j.  Changes that modify boundaries and configuration of | 
| 693 | areas described in subparagraph (b)14. due to science-based | 
| 694 | refinement of such areas by survey, by habitat evaluation, by | 
| 695 | other recognized assessment methodology, or by an environmental | 
| 696 | assessment. In order for changes to qualify under this sub- | 
| 697 | subparagraph, the survey, habitat evaluation, or assessment must | 
| 698 | occur prior to the time a conservation easement protecting such | 
| 699 | lands is recorded and must not result in any net decrease in the | 
| 700 | total acreage of the lands specifically set aside for permanent | 
| 701 | preservation in the final development order. | 
| 702 | k.  Changes to permit the sale of an affordable housing | 
| 703 | unit to a person who earns less than 120 percent of the area | 
| 704 | median income, provided the developer actively markets the unit | 
| 705 | for a minimum period of 6 months, is unable to close a sale to a | 
| 706 | qualified buyer in a lower income qualified income class, a | 
| 707 | certificate of occupancy is issued for the unit, and the | 
| 708 | developer proposes to sell the unit to a person who earns less | 
| 709 | than 120 percent of the area median income at a purchase price | 
| 710 | that is no greater than the purchase price at which the unit was | 
| 711 | originally marketed to a lower income qualified class. This | 
| 712 | provision may not be applied to residential units approved | 
| 713 | pursuant to subparagraph (b)7. or paragraph (i), and shall | 
| 714 | expire on July 1, 2009. | 
| 715 | l. k.Any other change which the state land planning | 
| 716 | agency, in consultation with the regional planning council, | 
| 717 | agrees in writing is similar in nature, impact, or character to | 
| 718 | the changes enumerated in sub-subparagraphs a.-j. and which does | 
| 719 | not create the likelihood of any additional regional impact. | 
| 720 | 
 | 
| 721 | This subsection does not require the filing of a notice of | 
| 722 | proposed change but shall require an application to the local | 
| 723 | government to amend the development order in accordance with the | 
| 724 | local government's procedures for amendment of a development | 
| 725 | order. In accordance with the local government's procedures, | 
| 726 | including requirements for notice to the applicant and the | 
| 727 | public, the local government shall either deny the application | 
| 728 | for amendment or adopt an amendment to the development order | 
| 729 | which approves the application with or without conditions. | 
| 730 | Following adoption, the local government shall render to the | 
| 731 | state land planning agency the amendment to the development | 
| 732 | order. The state land planning agency may appeal, pursuant to s. | 
| 733 | 380.07(3), the amendment to the development order if the | 
| 734 | amendment involves sub-subparagraph g., sub-subparagraph h., | 
| 735 | sub-subparagraph j., orsub-subparagraph k. , or sub- | 
| 736 | subparagraph l., and it believes the change creates a reasonable | 
| 737 | likelihood of new or additional regional impacts. | 
| 738 | 3.  Except for the change authorized by sub-subparagraph | 
| 739 | 2.f., any addition of land not previously reviewed or any change | 
| 740 | not specified in paragraph (b) or paragraph (c) shall be | 
| 741 | presumed to create a substantial deviation. This presumption may | 
| 742 | be rebutted by clear and convincing evidence. | 
| 743 | 4.  Any submittal of a proposed change to a previously | 
| 744 | approved development shall include a description of individual | 
| 745 | changes previously made to the development, including changes | 
| 746 | previously approved by the local government. The local | 
| 747 | government shall consider the previous and current proposed | 
| 748 | changes in deciding whether such changes cumulatively constitute | 
| 749 | a substantial deviation requiring further development-of- | 
| 750 | regional-impact review. | 
| 751 | 5.  The following changes to an approved development of | 
| 752 | regional impact shall be presumed to create a substantial | 
| 753 | deviation. Such presumption may be rebutted by clear and | 
| 754 | convincing evidence. | 
| 755 | a.  A change proposed for 15 percent or more of the acreage | 
| 756 | to a land use not previously approved in the development order. | 
| 757 | Changes of less than 15 percent shall be presumed not to create | 
| 758 | a substantial deviation. | 
| 759 | b.  Notwithstanding any provision of paragraph (b) to the | 
| 760 | contrary, a proposed change consisting of simultaneous increases | 
| 761 | and decreases of at least two of the uses within an authorized | 
| 762 | multiuse development of regional impact which was originally | 
| 763 | approved with three or more uses specified in s. 380.0651(3)(c), | 
| 764 | (d), (e), and (f) and residential use. | 
| 765 | Section 10.  Subsection (2) of section 420.504, Florida | 
| 766 | Statutes, is amended to read: | 
| 767 | 420.504  Public corporation; creation, membership, terms, | 
| 768 | expenses.-- | 
| 769 | (2)  The corporation is constituted as a public | 
| 770 | instrumentality, and the exercise by the corporation of the | 
| 771 | power conferred by this act is considered to be the performance | 
| 772 | of an essential public function. The corporation is shall | 
| 773 | constitutean agency for the purposes of s. 120.52 and is a | 
| 774 | state agency for purposes of s. 159.807(4). The corporation is | 
| 775 | subject to chapter 119, subject to exceptions applicable to the | 
| 776 | corporation, and to the provisions of chapter 286; however, the | 
| 777 | corporation shall be entitled to provide notice of internal | 
| 778 | review committee meetings for competitive proposals or | 
| 779 | procurement to applicants by mail, orfacsimile, or publication | 
| 780 | on an Internet website, rather than by means of publication. The | 
| 781 | corporation is not governed by chapter 607 or chapter 617, but | 
| 782 | by the provisions of this part. If for any reason the | 
| 783 | establishment of the corporation is deemed in violation of law, | 
| 784 | such provision is severable and the remainder of this act | 
| 785 | remains in full force and effect. | 
| 786 | Section 11.  Section 420.506, Florida Statutes, is amended | 
| 787 | to read: | 
| 788 | 420.506  Executive director; agents and employees.--The | 
| 789 | appointment and removal of an executive director shall be by the | 
| 790 | Secretary of Community Affairs, with the advice and consent of | 
| 791 | the corporation's board of directors. The executive director | 
| 792 | shall employ legal and technical experts and such other agents | 
| 793 | and employees, permanent and temporary, as the corporation may | 
| 794 | require, and shall communicate with and provide information to | 
| 795 | the Legislature with respect to the corporation's activities. | 
| 796 | The board is authorized, notwithstanding the provisions of s. | 
| 797 | 216.262, to develop and implement rules regarding the employment | 
| 798 | of employees of the corporation and service providers, including | 
| 799 | legal counsel. The corporation is authorized to enter into a | 
| 800 | lease agreement with the Department of Management Services or | 
| 801 | the Department of Community Affairs for the lease of state | 
| 802 | employees from such entities, wherein an employee shall retain | 
| 803 | his or her status as a state employee but shall work under the | 
| 804 | direct supervision of the corporation, and shall retain the | 
| 805 | right to participate in the Florida Retirement System.The board | 
| 806 | of directors of the corporation is entitled to establish travel | 
| 807 | procedures and guidelines for employees of the corporation. The | 
| 808 | executive director's office and the corporation's files and | 
| 809 | records must be located in Leon County. | 
| 810 | Section 12.  Section 420.5061, Florida Statutes, is amended | 
| 811 | to read: | 
| 812 | 420.5061  Transfer of agency assets and liabilities.-- | 
| 813 | Effective January 1, 1998, all assets and liabilities and rights | 
| 814 | and obligations, including any outstanding contractual | 
| 815 | obligations, of the agency shall be transferred toThe | 
| 816 | corporation is the aslegal successor in all respects to the | 
| 817 | agency, is . the corporation shall thereupon becomeobligated to | 
| 818 | the same extent as the agency under any existingagreements | 
| 819 | existing on December 31, 1997, and is beentitled to any rights | 
| 820 | and remedies previously afforded the agency by law or contract, | 
| 821 | including specifically the rights of the agency under chapter | 
| 822 | 201 and part VI of chapter 159. The corporation is a state | 
| 823 | agency for purposes of s. 159.807(4)(a).Effective January 1, | 
| 824 | 1998, all references under Florida law to the agency are deemed | 
| 825 | to mean the corporation. The corporation shall transfer to the | 
| 826 | General Revenue Fund an amount which otherwise would have been | 
| 827 | deducted as a service charge pursuant to s. 215.20(1) if the | 
| 828 | Florida Housing Finance Corporation Fund established by s. | 
| 829 | 420.508(5), the State Apartment Incentive Loan Fund established | 
| 830 | by s. 420.5087(7), the Florida Homeownership Assistance Fund | 
| 831 | established by s. 420.5088(4), the HOME Investment Partnership | 
| 832 | Fund established by s. 420.5089(1), and the Housing | 
| 833 | Predevelopment Loan Fund established by s. 420.525(1) were each | 
| 834 | trust funds. For purposes of s. 112.313, the corporation is | 
| 835 | deemed to be a continuation of the agency, and the provisions | 
| 836 | thereof are deemed to apply as if the same entity remained in | 
| 837 | place. Any employees of the agency and agency board members | 
| 838 | covered by s. 112.313(9)(a)6. shall continue to be entitled to | 
| 839 | the exemption in that subparagraph, notwithstanding being hired | 
| 840 | by the corporation or appointed as board members of the | 
| 841 | corporation. Effective January 1, 1998, all state property in | 
| 842 | use by the agency shall be transferred to and become the | 
| 843 | property of the corporation. | 
| 844 | Section 13.  Subsection (46) is added to section 420.507, | 
| 845 | Florida Statutes, to read: | 
| 846 | 420.507  Powers of the corporation.--The corporation shall | 
| 847 | have all the powers necessary or convenient to carry out and | 
| 848 | effectuate the purposes and provisions of this part, including | 
| 849 | the following powers which are in addition to all other powers | 
| 850 | granted by other provisions of this part: | 
| 851 | (46)  To require, as a condition of financing a multifamily | 
| 852 | rental project, that an agreement be recorded in the official | 
| 853 | records of the county where the real property is located, which | 
| 854 | requires that the project be used for housing defined as | 
| 855 | affordable in s. 420.0004(3) by persons defined in 420.0004(8), | 
| 856 | (10), (11), and (15). Such an agreement is a state land use | 
| 857 | regulation that limits the highest and best use of the property | 
| 858 | within the meaning of s. 193.011(2). | 
| 859 | Section 14.  Subsection (3) of section 420.5087, Florida | 
| 860 | Statutes, is amended to read: | 
| 861 | 420.5087  State Apartment Incentive Loan Program.--There is | 
| 862 | hereby created the State Apartment Incentive Loan Program for | 
| 863 | the purpose of providing first, second, or other subordinated | 
| 864 | mortgage loans or loan guarantees to sponsors, including for- | 
| 865 | profit, nonprofit, and public entities, to provide housing | 
| 866 | affordable to very-low-income persons. | 
| 867 | (3)  During the first 6 months of loan or loan guarantee | 
| 868 | availability, program funds shall be reserved for use by | 
| 869 | sponsors who provide the housing set-aside required in | 
| 870 | subsection (2) for the tenant groups designated in this | 
| 871 | subsection. The reservation of funds to each of these groups | 
| 872 | shall be determined using the most recent statewide very-low- | 
| 873 | income rental housing market study available at the time of | 
| 874 | publication of each notice of fund availability required by | 
| 875 | paragraph (6)(b). The reservation of funds within each notice of | 
| 876 | fund availability to the tenant groups in paragraphs (a), (b), | 
| 877 | and (d) may not be less than 10 percent of the funds available | 
| 878 | at that time. Any increase in funding required to reach the 10- | 
| 879 | percent minimum must shallbe taken from the tenant group that | 
| 880 | has the largest reservation. The reservation of funds within | 
| 881 | each notice of fund availability to the tenant group in | 
| 882 | paragraph (c) may not be less than 5 percent of the funds | 
| 883 | available at that time. The tenant groups are: | 
| 884 | (a)  Commercial fishing workers and farmworkers; | 
| 885 | (b)  Families; | 
| 886 | (c)  Persons who are homeless; and | 
| 887 | (d)  Elderly persons. Ten percent of the amount reserved | 
| 888 | for the elderly shall be reserved to provide loans to sponsors | 
| 889 | of housing for the elderly for the purpose of making building | 
| 890 | preservation, health, or sanitation repairs or improvements | 
| 891 | which are required by federal, state, or local regulation or | 
| 892 | code, or lifesafety or security-related repairs or improvements | 
| 893 | to such housing. Such a loan may not exceed $750,000 per housing | 
| 894 | community for the elderly. In order to receive the loan, the | 
| 895 | sponsor of the housing community must make a commitment to match | 
| 896 | at least 5 percent of the loan amount to pay the cost of such | 
| 897 | repair or improvement. The corporation shall establish the rate | 
| 898 | of interest on the loan, which may not exceed 3 percent, and the | 
| 899 | term of the loan, which may not exceed 15 years; however, if the | 
| 900 | lien of the corporation's encumbrance is subordinate to the lien | 
| 901 | of another mortgagee, then the term may be made coterminous with | 
| 902 | the longest term of the superior lien. The term of the loan | 
| 903 | shall be based on established on the basis ofa credit analysis | 
| 904 | of the applicant. The corporation may forgive indebtedness for a | 
| 905 | share of the loan attributable to the units in a project | 
| 906 | reserved for extremely-low-income elderly by nonprofit | 
| 907 | organizations, as defined in s. 420.0004(5), where the project | 
| 908 | has provided affordable housing to the elderly for 15 years or | 
| 909 | more. The corporation shall establish, by rule, the procedure | 
| 910 | and criteria for receiving, evaluating, and competitively | 
| 911 | ranking all applications for loans under this paragraph. A loan | 
| 912 | application must include evidence of the first mortgagee's | 
| 913 | having reviewed and approved the sponsor's intent to apply for a | 
| 914 | loan. A nonprofit organization or sponsor may not use the | 
| 915 | proceeds of the loan to pay for administrative costs, routine | 
| 916 | maintenance, or new construction. | 
| 917 | Section 15.  Section 420.5095, Florida Statutes, is amended | 
| 918 | to read: | 
| 919 | 420.5095  Community Workforce Housing Innovation Pilot | 
| 920 | Program.-- | 
| 921 | (1)  The Legislature finds and declares that recent rapid | 
| 922 | increases in the median purchase price of a home and the cost of | 
| 923 | rental housing have far outstripped the increases in median | 
| 924 | income in the state, preventing essential services personnel | 
| 925 | from living in the communities where they serve and thereby | 
| 926 | creating the need for innovative solutions for the provision of | 
| 927 | housing opportunities for essential services personnel. | 
| 928 | (2)  The Community Workforce Housing Innovation Pilot | 
| 929 | Program is created to provide affordable rental and home | 
| 930 | ownership community workforce housing for essential services | 
| 931 | personnel affected by the high cost of housing, using regulatory | 
| 932 | incentives and state and local funds to promote local public- | 
| 933 | private partnerships and leverage government and private | 
| 934 | resources. | 
| 935 | (3)  For purposes of this section, the term following | 
| 936 | definitions apply: | 
| 937 | (a)  "Workforce housing" means housing affordable to | 
| 938 | natural persons or families whose total annual household income | 
| 939 | does not exceed 140 percent of the area median income, adjusted | 
| 940 | for household size, or 150 percent of area median income, | 
| 941 | adjusted for household size, in areas of critical state concern | 
| 942 | designated under s. 380.05, for which the Legislature has | 
| 943 | declared its intent to provide affordable housing, and areas | 
| 944 | that were designated as areas of critical state concern for at | 
| 945 | least 20 consecutive years prior to removal of the designation. | 
| 946 | (b)  "Essential services personnel" means persons in need | 
| 947 | of affordable housing who are employed in occupations or | 
| 948 | professions in which they are considered essential services | 
| 949 | personnel, as defined by each county and eligible municipality | 
| 950 | within its respective local housing assistance plan pursuant to | 
| 951 | s. 420.9075(3)(a). | 
| 952 | (c)  "Public-private partnership" means any form of | 
| 953 | business entity that includes substantial involvement of at | 
| 954 | least one county, one municipality, or one public sector entity, | 
| 955 | such as a school district or other unit of local government in | 
| 956 | which the project is to be located, and at least one private | 
| 957 | sector for-profit or not-for-profit business or charitable | 
| 958 | entity, and may be any form of business entity, including a | 
| 959 | joint venture or contractual agreement. | 
| 960 | (4)  The Florida Housing Finance Corporation is authorized | 
| 961 | to provide Community Workforce Housing Innovation Pilot Program | 
| 962 | loans to an applicant for construction or rehabilitation of | 
| 963 | workforce housing in eligible areas. The corporation shall | 
| 964 | establish a funding process and selection criteria by rule or | 
| 965 | request for proposals.This funding is intended to be used with | 
| 966 | other public and private sector resources. | 
| 967 | (5)  The corporation shall establish a loan application | 
| 968 | process by rule which includes selection criteria, an | 
| 969 | application review process, and a funding process. The | 
| 970 | corporation shall also establish an application review committee | 
| 971 | that may include up to three private citizens representing the | 
| 972 | areas of housing or real estate development, banking, community | 
| 973 | planning, or other areas related to the development or financing | 
| 974 | of workforce and affordable housing. | 
| 975 | (a)  The selection criteria and application review process | 
| 976 | must include a procedure for curing errors in the loan | 
| 977 | applications which do not make a substantial change to the | 
| 978 | proposed project. | 
| 979 | (b)  To achieve the goals of the pilot program, the | 
| 980 | application review committee may approve or reject loan | 
| 981 | applications or responses to questions raised during the review | 
| 982 | of an application due to the insufficiency of information | 
| 983 | provided. | 
| 984 | (c)  The application review committee shall make | 
| 985 | recommendations concerning program participation and funding to | 
| 986 | the corporation's board of directors. | 
| 987 | (d)  The board of directors shall approve or reject loan | 
| 988 | applications, determine the tentative loan amount available to | 
| 989 | each applicant, and rank all approved applications. | 
| 990 | (e)  The board of directors shall decide which approved | 
| 991 | applicants will become program participants and determine the | 
| 992 | maximum loan amount for each program participant. | 
| 993 | (6) (5)The corporation shall provide incentives for local | 
| 994 | governments in eligible areas to use local affordable housing | 
| 995 | funds, such as those from the State Housing Initiatives | 
| 996 | Partnership Program, to assist in meeting the affordable housing | 
| 997 | needs of persons eligible under this program. Local governments | 
| 998 | are authorized to use State Housing Initiative Partnership | 
| 999 | Program funds for persons or families whose total annual | 
| 1000 | household income does not exceed: | 
| 1001 | (a)  One hundred and forty percent of the area median | 
| 1002 | income, adjusted for household size; or | 
| 1003 | (b)  One hundred and fifty percent of the area median | 
| 1004 | income, adjusted for household size, in areas that were | 
| 1005 | designated as areas of critical state concern for at least 20 | 
| 1006 | consecutive years prior to the removal of the designation and in | 
| 1007 | areas of critical state concern, designated under s. 380.05, for | 
| 1008 | which the Legislature has declared its intent to provide | 
| 1009 | affordable housing. | 
| 1010 | (7) (6)Funding shall be targeted to innovative projects in | 
| 1011 | areas where the disparity between the area median income and the | 
| 1012 | median sales price for a single-family home is greatest, and for | 
| 1013 | projects in areaswhere population growth as a percentage rate | 
| 1014 | of increase is greatest. The corporation may also fund projects | 
| 1015 | in areas where innovative regulatory and financial incentives | 
| 1016 | are made available. The corporation shall fund at least one | 
| 1017 | eligible project in as many counties and regions of the state as | 
| 1018 | is practicable, consistent with program goals as possible. | 
| 1019 | (8) (7)Projects shall receive priority consideration for | 
| 1020 | funding where: | 
| 1021 | (a)  The local jurisdiction has adopted, or is committed to | 
| 1022 | adopting, adoptsappropriate regulatory incentives, or the local | 
| 1023 | jurisdiction or public-private partnership has adopted or is | 
| 1024 | committed to adopting local contributions or financial | 
| 1025 | strategies, or other funding sources to promote the development | 
| 1026 | and ongoing financial viability of such projects. Local | 
| 1027 | incentives include such actions as expediting review of | 
| 1028 | development orders and permits, supporting development near | 
| 1029 | transportation hubs and major employment centers, and adopting | 
| 1030 | land development regulations designed to allow flexibility in | 
| 1031 | densities, use of accessory units, mixed-use developments, and | 
| 1032 | flexible lot configurations. Financial strategies include such | 
| 1033 | actions as promoting employer-assisted housing programs, | 
| 1034 | providing tax increment financing, and providing land. | 
| 1035 | (b)  Projects are innovative and include new construction | 
| 1036 | or rehabilitation; ,mixed-income housing;, orcommercial and | 
| 1037 | housing mixed-use elements; innovative design, green building | 
| 1038 | principles; storm-resistant construction; or other elements that | 
| 1039 | reduce long-term costs relating to maintenance, utilities, or | 
| 1040 | insurance and those thatpromote homeownership. The program | 
| 1041 | funding may shallnot exceed the costs attributable to the | 
| 1042 | portion of the project that is set aside to provide housing for | 
| 1043 | the targeted population. | 
| 1044 | (c)  Projects that set aside at least 80 percent of units | 
| 1045 | for workforce housing and at least 50 percent for essential | 
| 1046 | services personnel and for projects that require the least | 
| 1047 | amount of program funding compared to the overall housing costs | 
| 1048 | for the project. | 
| 1049 | (9) (8)Notwithstandingthe provisions ofs. 163.3184(3)- | 
| 1050 | (6), any local government comprehensive plan amendment to | 
| 1051 | implement a Community Workforce Housing Innovation Pilot Program | 
| 1052 | project found consistent with the provisions of this section | 
| 1053 | shall be expedited as provided in this subsection. At least 30 | 
| 1054 | days prior to adopting a plan amendment under pursuant tothis | 
| 1055 | subsection, the local government shall notify the state land | 
| 1056 | planning agency of its intent to adopt such an amendment, and | 
| 1057 | the notice shall include its evaluation related to site | 
| 1058 | suitability and availability of facilities and services. The | 
| 1059 | public notice of the hearing required by s. 163.3184(15)(b)2. s. | 
| 1060 | 163.3184(15)(e)shall include a statement that the local | 
| 1061 | government intends to use utilizethe expedited adoption process | 
| 1062 | authorized by this subsection. Such amendments shall require | 
| 1063 | only a single public hearing before the governing board, which | 
| 1064 | shall be an adoption hearing as described in s. 163.3184(7). , | 
| 1065 | andThe state land planning agency shall issue its notice of | 
| 1066 | intent pursuant to s. 163.3184(8) within 30 days after | 
| 1067 | determining that the amendment package is complete. Any further | 
| 1068 | proceedings shall be governed by ss. 163.3184(9)-(16). | 
| 1069 | Amendments proposed under this section are not subject to s. | 
| 1070 | 163.3187(1), which limits the adoption of a comprehensive plan | 
| 1071 | amendment to no more than two times during any calendar year. | 
| 1072 | (10)  The processing of approvals of development orders or | 
| 1073 | development permits, as defined in s. 163.3164(7) and (8), for | 
| 1074 | innovative community workforce housing projects shall be | 
| 1075 | expedited. | 
| 1076 | (11) (9)The corporation shall award loans with interest | 
| 1077 | rates set at 1 to 3 percent, which may be made forgivable when | 
| 1078 | long-term affordability is provided and when at least 80 percent | 
| 1079 | of the units are set aside for workforce housing and at least 50 | 
| 1080 | percent of the units are set aside for essential services | 
| 1081 | personnel. | 
| 1082 | (12) (10)All eligible applications shall: | 
| 1083 | (a)  For home ownership, limit the sales price of a | 
| 1084 | detached unit, townhome, or condominium unit to not more than 90 | 
| 1085 | 80percent of the median sales price for that type of unit in | 
| 1086 | that county, or the statewide median sales price for that type | 
| 1087 | of unit, whichever is higher, and require that all eligible | 
| 1088 | purchasers of home ownership units occupy the homes as their | 
| 1089 | primary residence. | 
| 1090 | (b)  For rental units, restrict rents for all workforce | 
| 1091 | housing serving those with incomes at or below 120 percent of | 
| 1092 | area median income at the appropriate income level using the | 
| 1093 | restricted rents for the federal low-income housing tax credit | 
| 1094 | program and, for workforce housing units serving those with | 
| 1095 | incomes above 120 percent of area median income, restrict rents | 
| 1096 | to those established by the corporation, not to exceed 30 | 
| 1097 | percent of the maximum household income adjusted to unit size. | 
| 1098 | (c)  Demonstrate that the applicant is a public-private | 
| 1099 | partnership in an agreement, contract, partnership agreement, | 
| 1100 | memorandum of understanding, or other written instrument signed | 
| 1101 | by all the project partners. | 
| 1102 | (d)  Have grants, donations of land, or contributions from | 
| 1103 | the public-private partnership or other sources collectively | 
| 1104 | totaling at least 10 15percent of the total development cost or | 
| 1105 | $2 million, whichever is less. Such grants, donations of land, | 
| 1106 | or contributions must be evidenced by a letter of commitment, an | 
| 1107 | agreement, contract, deed, memorandum of understanding, or other | 
| 1108 | written instrument onlyat the time of application. Grants, | 
| 1109 | donations of land, or contributions in excess of 10 15percent | 
| 1110 | of the development cost shall increase the application score. | 
| 1111 | (e)  Demonstrate how the applicant will use the regulatory | 
| 1112 | incentives and financial strategies outlined in subsection (8) | 
| 1113 | paragraph (7)(a)from the local jurisdiction in which the | 
| 1114 | proposed project is to be located. The corporation may consult | 
| 1115 | with the Department of Community Affairs in evaluating the use | 
| 1116 | of regulatory incentives by applicants. | 
| 1117 | (f)  Demonstrate that the applicant possesses title to or | 
| 1118 | site control of land and evidences availability of required | 
| 1119 | infrastructure. | 
| 1120 | (g)  Demonstrate the applicant's affordable housing | 
| 1121 | development and management experience. | 
| 1122 | (h)  Provide any research or facts available supporting the | 
| 1123 | demand and need for rental or home ownership workforce housing | 
| 1124 | for eligible persons in the market in which the project is | 
| 1125 | proposed. | 
| 1126 | (13) (11)Projects may include manufactured housing | 
| 1127 | constructed after June 1994 and installed in accordance with | 
| 1128 | mobile home installation standards of the Department of Highway | 
| 1129 | Safety and Motor Vehicles. | 
| 1130 | (14) (12)The corporation may adopt rules pursuant to ss. | 
| 1131 | 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement the provisions ofthis | 
| 1132 | section. | 
| 1133 | (15) (13)The corporation may use a maximum of 2 percent of | 
| 1134 | the annual program appropriation for administration and | 
| 1135 | compliance monitoring. | 
| 1136 | (16) (14)The corporation shall review the success of the | 
| 1137 | Community Workforce Housing Innovation Pilot Program to | 
| 1138 | ascertain whether the projects financed by the program are | 
| 1139 | useful in meeting the housing needs of eligible areas and shall | 
| 1140 | include its findings in the annual report required under s. | 
| 1141 | 420.511(3). The corporation shall submit its report and any | 
| 1142 | recommendations regarding the program to the Governor, the | 
| 1143 | Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the President of | 
| 1144 | the Senate not later than 2 months after the end of the | 
| 1145 | corporation's fiscal year. | 
| 1146 | Section 16.  Subsection (3) of section 420.511, Florida | 
| 1147 | Statutes, is amended to read: | 
| 1148 | 420.511  Business plan; strategic plan; annual report.-- | 
| 1149 | (3)(a)  The corporation shall submit to the Governor and | 
| 1150 | the presiding officers of each house of the Legislature, within | 
| 1151 | 2 months after the end of its fiscal year, a complete and | 
| 1152 | detailed report setting forth: | 
| 1153 | 1. (a)Its operations and accomplishments; | 
| 1154 | 2. (b)Its receipts and expenditures during its fiscal year | 
| 1155 | in accordance with the categories or classifications established | 
| 1156 | by the corporation for its operating and capital outlay | 
| 1157 | purposes; | 
| 1158 | 3. (c)Its assets and liabilities at the end of its fiscal | 
| 1159 | year and the status of reserve, special, or other funds; | 
| 1160 | 4. (d)A schedule of its bonds outstanding at the end of | 
| 1161 | its fiscal year, together with a statement of the principal | 
| 1162 | amounts of bonds issued and redeemed during the fiscal year; and | 
| 1163 | 5. (e)Information relating to the corporation's activities | 
| 1164 | in implementing the provisions of ss. 420.5087, and420.5088, | 
| 1165 | and 420.5095. | 
| 1166 | (b)  The report required by this subsectionshall include, | 
| 1167 | but not be limited to: | 
| 1168 | 1.  The number of people served, delineated by income, age, | 
| 1169 | family size, and racial characteristics. | 
| 1170 | 2.  The number of units produced under each program. | 
| 1171 | 3.  The average cost of producing units under each program. | 
| 1172 | 4.  The average sales price of single-family units financed | 
| 1173 | under s. 420.5088. | 
| 1174 | 5.  The average amount of rent charged based on unit size | 
| 1175 | on units financed under s. 420.5087. | 
| 1176 | 6.  The number of persons in rural communities served under | 
| 1177 | each program. | 
| 1178 | 7.  The number of farmworkers served under each program. | 
| 1179 | 8.  The number of homeless persons served under each | 
| 1180 | program. | 
| 1181 | 9.  The number of elderly persons served under each | 
| 1182 | program. | 
| 1183 | 10.  The extent to which geographic distribution has been | 
| 1184 | achieved in accordance with the provisions of s. 420.5087. | 
| 1185 | 11.  The success of the Community Workforce Housing | 
| 1186 | Innovation Pilot Program in meeting the housing needs of | 
| 1187 | eligible areas. | 
| 1188 | 12. 11.Any other information the corporation deems | 
| 1189 | appropriate. | 
| 1190 | Section 17.  Subsection (1) of section 420.513, Florida | 
| 1191 | Statutes, is amended to read: | 
| 1192 | 420.513  Exemption from taxes and eligibility as | 
| 1193 | investment.-- | 
| 1194 | (1)  The property of the corporation, the transactions and | 
| 1195 | operations thereof, the income therefrom, and the bonds of the | 
| 1196 | corporation issued under this act, together with all notes, | 
| 1197 | mortgages, security agreements, letters of credit, or other | 
| 1198 | instruments that arise out of or are given to secure the | 
| 1199 | repayment of bonds issued in connection with the financing of | 
| 1200 | any housing developmentunder this part, and all notes, | 
| 1201 | mortgages, security agreements, letters of credit, or other | 
| 1202 | instruments that arise out of or are given to secure the | 
| 1203 | repayment of loans issued in connection with the financing of | 
| 1204 | any housing under this part, as well as the interest thereon and | 
| 1205 | income therefrom, regardless of the status of any party thereto | 
| 1206 | as a private party, shall be exempt from taxation by the state | 
| 1207 | and its political subdivisions. The exemption granted by this | 
| 1208 | subsection shall not apply to any tax imposed by chapter 220 on | 
| 1209 | interest, income, or profits on debt obligations owned by | 
| 1210 | corporations. | 
| 1211 | Section 18.  Subsection (7) of section 420.526, Florida | 
| 1212 | Statutes, is amended to read: | 
| 1213 | 420.526  Predevelopment Loan Program; loans and grants | 
| 1214 | authorized; activities eligible for support.-- | 
| 1215 | (7)  No predevelopment loan made under this section shall | 
| 1216 | exceed the lesser of: | 
| 1217 | (a)  The development and acquisition costs for the project, | 
| 1218 | as determined by rule of the corporation; or | 
| 1219 | (b)  Seven hundred and fifty Five hundredthousand dollars. | 
| 1220 | Section 19.  Subsections (2), (4), (5), and (6) of section | 
| 1221 | 420.9076, Florida Statutes, are amended, and subsections (8) and | 
| 1222 | (9) are added to that section, to read: | 
| 1223 | 420.9076  Adoption of affordable housing incentive | 
| 1224 | strategies; committees.-- | 
| 1225 | (2)  The governing board of a county or municipality shall | 
| 1226 | appoint the members of the affordable housing advisory committee | 
| 1227 | by resolution. Pursuant to the terms of any interlocal | 
| 1228 | agreement, a county and municipality may create and jointly | 
| 1229 | appoint an advisory committee to prepare a joint plan. The | 
| 1230 | ordinance adopted pursuant to s. 420.9072 which creates the | 
| 1231 | advisory committee or the resolution appointing the advisory | 
| 1232 | committee members must provide for eleven ninecommittee members | 
| 1233 | and their terms. The committee must include: | 
| 1234 | (a)  One citizen who is actively engaged in the residential | 
| 1235 | home building industry in connection with affordable housing. | 
| 1236 | (b)  One citizen who is actively engaged in the banking or | 
| 1237 | mortgage banking industry in connection with affordable housing. | 
| 1238 | (c)  One citizen who is a representative of those areas of | 
| 1239 | labor actively engaged in home building in connection with | 
| 1240 | affordable housing. | 
| 1241 | (d)  One citizen who is actively engaged as an advocate for | 
| 1242 | low-income persons in connection with affordable housing. | 
| 1243 | (e)  One citizen who is actively engaged as a for-profit | 
| 1244 | provider of affordable housing. | 
| 1245 | (f)  One citizen who is actively engaged as a not-for- | 
| 1246 | profit provider of affordable housing. | 
| 1247 | (g)  One citizen who is actively engaged as a real estate | 
| 1248 | professional in connection with affordable housing. | 
| 1249 | (h)  One citizen who actively serves on the local planning | 
| 1250 | agency pursuant to s. 163.3174. | 
| 1251 | (i)  One citizen who resides within the jurisdiction of the | 
| 1252 | local governing body making the appointments. | 
| 1253 | (j)  One citizen who represents employers within the | 
| 1254 | jurisdiction. | 
| 1255 | (k)  One citizen who represents essential services | 
| 1256 | personnel, as defined in the local housing assistance plan. | 
| 1257 | 
 | 
| 1258 | If a county or eligible municipality whether due to its small | 
| 1259 | size, the presence of a conflict of interest by prospective | 
| 1260 | appointees, or other reasonable factor, is unable to appoint a | 
| 1261 | citizen actively engaged in these activities in connection with | 
| 1262 | affordable housing, a citizen engaged in the activity without | 
| 1263 | regard to affordable housing may be appointed. Local governments | 
| 1264 | that receive the minimum allocation under the State Housing | 
| 1265 | Initiatives Partnership Program may elect to appoint an | 
| 1266 | affordable housing advisory committee with fewer than eleven | 
| 1267 | representatives if they are unable to find representatives that | 
| 1268 | meet the criteria of paragraphs (a)-(k). | 
| 1269 | (4)  Triennially, the advisory committee shall review the | 
| 1270 | established policies and procedures, ordinances, land | 
| 1271 | development regulations, and adopted local government | 
| 1272 | comprehensive plan of the appointing local government and shall | 
| 1273 | recommend specific actions or initiatives to encourage or | 
| 1274 | facilitate affordable housing while protecting the ability of | 
| 1275 | the property to appreciate in value. The Suchrecommendations | 
| 1276 | may include the modification or repeal of existing policies, | 
| 1277 | procedures, ordinances, regulations, or plan provisions; the | 
| 1278 | creation of exceptions applicable to affordable housing; or the | 
| 1279 | adoption of new policies, procedures, regulations, ordinances, | 
| 1280 | or plan provisions, including recommendations to amend the local | 
| 1281 | government comprehensive plan and corresponding regulations, | 
| 1282 | ordinances, and other policies. At a minimum, each advisory | 
| 1283 | committee shall submit a report to the local governing body that | 
| 1284 | includes makerecommendations on, and triennially thereafter | 
| 1285 | evaluates the implementation of, affordable housing incentives | 
| 1286 | in the following areas: | 
| 1287 | (a)  The processing of approvals of development orders or | 
| 1288 | permits, as defined in s. 163.3164(7) and (8), for affordable | 
| 1289 | housing projects is expedited to a greater degree than other | 
| 1290 | projects. | 
| 1291 | (b)  The modification of impact-fee requirements, including | 
| 1292 | reduction or waiver of fees and alternative methods of fee | 
| 1293 | payment for affordable housing. | 
| 1294 | (c)  The allowance of flexibility in densities increased | 
| 1295 | density levelsfor affordable housing. | 
| 1296 | (d)  The reservation of infrastructure capacity for housing | 
| 1297 | for very-low-income persons, andlow-income persons, and | 
| 1298 | moderate-income persons. | 
| 1299 | (e)  The allowance of affordable accessory residential | 
| 1300 | units in residential zoning districts. | 
| 1301 | (f)  The reduction of parking and setback requirements for | 
| 1302 | affordable housing. | 
| 1303 | (g)  The allowance of flexible lot configurations, | 
| 1304 | including zero-lot-line configurations for affordable housing. | 
| 1305 | (h)  The modification of street requirements for affordable | 
| 1306 | housing. | 
| 1307 | (i)  The establishment of a process by which a local | 
| 1308 | government considers, before adoption, policies, procedures, | 
| 1309 | ordinances, regulations, or plan provisions that increase the | 
| 1310 | cost of housing. | 
| 1311 | (j)  The preparation of a printed inventory of locally | 
| 1312 | owned public lands suitable for affordable housing. | 
| 1313 | (k)  The support of development near transportation hubs | 
| 1314 | and major employment centers and mixed-use developments. | 
| 1315 | 
 | 
| 1316 | The advisory committee recommendations may mustalso include | 
| 1317 | other affordable housing incentives identified by the advisory | 
| 1318 | committee. Local governments that receive the minimum allocation | 
| 1319 | under the State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program shall | 
| 1320 | perform the initial review, but may elect to not perform the | 
| 1321 | triennial review. | 
| 1322 | (5)  The approval by the advisory committee of its local | 
| 1323 | housing incentive strategies recommendations and its review of | 
| 1324 | local government implementation of previously recommended | 
| 1325 | strategies must be made by affirmative vote of a majority of the | 
| 1326 | membership of the advisory committee taken at a public hearing. | 
| 1327 | Notice of the time, date, and place of the public hearing of the | 
| 1328 | advisory committee to adopt final local housing incentive | 
| 1329 | strategies recommendations must be published in a newspaper of | 
| 1330 | general paid circulation in the county. The Suchnotice must | 
| 1331 | contain a short and concise summary of the local housing | 
| 1332 | incentives strategies recommendations to be considered by the | 
| 1333 | advisory committee. The notice must state the public place where | 
| 1334 | a copy of the tentative advisory committee recommendations can | 
| 1335 | be obtained by interested persons. | 
| 1336 | (6)  Within 90 days after the date of receipt of the local | 
| 1337 | housing incentive strategies recommendations from the advisory | 
| 1338 | committee, the governing body of the appointing local government | 
| 1339 | shall adopt an amendment to its local housing assistance plan to | 
| 1340 | incorporate the local housing incentive strategies it will | 
| 1341 | implement within its jurisdiction. The amendment must include, | 
| 1342 | at a minimum, the local housing incentive strategies required | 
| 1343 | under s. 420.9071(16). The local government must consider the | 
| 1344 | strategies specified in paragraphs (4)(a)-(k) as recommended by | 
| 1345 | the advisory committee (4)(a)-(j). | 
| 1346 | (8)  The advisory committee may perform other duties at the | 
| 1347 | request of the local government, including: | 
| 1348 | (a)  The provision of mentoring services to affordable | 
| 1349 | housing partners including developers, banking institutions, | 
| 1350 | employers, and others to identify available incentives, assist | 
| 1351 | with applications for funding requests, and develop partnerships | 
| 1352 | between various parties. | 
| 1353 | (b)  The creation of best practices for the development of | 
| 1354 | affordable housing in the community. | 
| 1355 | (9)  The advisory committee shall be cooperatively staffed | 
| 1356 | by the local government department or division having authority | 
| 1357 | to administer local planning or housing programs to ensure an | 
| 1358 | integrated approach to the work of the advisory committee. | 
| 1359 | Section 20.  Section 624.46226, Florida Statutes, is | 
| 1360 | created to read: | 
| 1361 | 624.46226  Public housing authorities self-insurance funds; | 
| 1362 | exemption for taxation and assessments.-- | 
| 1363 | (1)  Any two or more public housing authorities in the | 
| 1364 | state as defined in chapter 421 may also create a self-insurance | 
| 1365 | fund for the purpose of self-insuring real or personal property | 
| 1366 | of every kind and every interest in such property against loss | 
| 1367 | or damage from any hazard or cause and against any loss | 
| 1368 | consequential to such loss or damage, provided all the | 
| 1369 | provisions of s. 624.4622 are met. | 
| 1370 | (2)  Any public housing authority in the state as defined | 
| 1371 | in chapter 421 that is a member of a self-insurance fund | 
| 1372 | pursuant to this section shall be exempt from the assessments | 
| 1373 | imposed under ss. 627.351, 631.57, and 215.555. | 
| 1374 | Section 21.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2007. |