HB 313

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to solar energy; creating s. 212.0803,
3	F.S.; specifying a limited period each year through 2010,
4	designated Energy Efficient Week, during which the sale of
5	energy-efficient products for noncommercial or personal
6	use is exempt from sales taxation; providing a limitation;
7	providing a definition; prohibiting purchase of products
8	by certain payment methods; providing that certain
9	purchases or attempts to purchase are unfair methods of
10	competition and punishable as such; authorizing the
11	Department of Revenue to adopt rules; amending s. 377.806,
12	F.S.; authorizing only one rebate per installation of
13	certain solar energy systems; providing for preapproved
14	rebates; requiring the Florida Public Service Commission
15	to adopt rules; requiring the Department of Environmental
16	Protection to develop preapproval processes by rule;
17	providing legislative findings; requiring the department
18	to establish and publicize an information hotline and
19	create certain promotional materials; providing
20	appropriations; providing an effective date.
21
22	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
23
24	Section 1.  Section 212.0803, Florida Statutes, is created
25	to read:
26	212.0803  Energy Efficient Week; limited energy-efficient
27	product exemption.--The period from 12:01 a.m., October 5, 2007,
28	through midnight, October 14, 2007, and the period from 12:01
29	a.m. on the first Friday of October through midnight on the
30	second Sunday of October for each year thereafter through 2010,
31	shall be designated "Energy Efficient Week," and the tax levied
32	under this chapter may not be collected on the sale of any new
33	energy-efficient product having a selling price of $1,500 or
34	less per product during that period. This exemption applies only
35	when the energy-efficient product is purchased for noncommercial
36	home or personal use and does not apply when the product is
37	purchased for trade, business, or resale. As used in this
38	section, the term "energy-efficient product" means a dishwasher,
39	clothes washer, clothes dryer, air conditioner, ceiling fan,
40	incandescent or fluorescent light bulb, dehumidifier,
41	programmable thermostat, or refrigerator that has been
42	designated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency
43	or by the United States Department of Energy as meeting or
44	exceeding the requirements under the Energy Star Program of
45	either agency. Purchases made under this section may not be made
46	using a business or company credit or debit card or check. Any
47	construction company, building contractor, or commercial
48	business or entity that purchases or attempts to purchase the
49	energy-efficient products as exempt under this section commits
50	an unfair method of competition in violation of s. 501.204,
51	punishable as provided in s. 501.2075. The Department of Revenue
52	may adopt rules under ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to administer
53	this section.
54	Section 2.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) and subsection
55	(7) of section 377.806, Florida Statutes, are amended, and
56	paragraphs (c) and (d) are added to subsection (2) of that
57	section, to read:
58	377.806  Solar Energy System Incentives Program.--
59	(2)  SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM INCENTIVE.--
60	(b)  Rebate amounts.--The rebate amount shall be set at $4
61	per watt based on the total wattage rating of the system. Only
62	one rebate shall be allowed per system. The maximum allowable
63	rebate per solar photovoltaic system installation shall be as
64	follows:
65	1.  Twenty thousand dollars for a residence.
66	2.  One hundred thousand dollars for a place of business, a
67	publicly owned or operated facility, or a facility owned or
68	operated by a private, not-for-profit organization, including
69	condominiums or apartment buildings.
70	(c)  Rebate preapproval.--General contractors may receive
71	rebate preapproval for a qualifying solar photovoltaic system if
72	the system will be installed in a new home during construction
73	of the home.
74	(d)  Rules.--The Florida Public Service Commission shall
75	adopt rules necessary to implement the provisions of this
76	subsection, including amending current interconnection standards
77	for solar energy systems up to 100 kilowatts and providing for
78	net metering of solar energy systems up to 100 kilowatts as
79	defined in this section and in accordance with current Institute
80	of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc., standards for
81	solar energy systems.
82	(7)  RULES.--The department shall adopt rules pursuant to
83	ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to develop rebate applications and
84	preapproval processes and administer the issuance of rebates.
85	Section 3.  The Legislature finds that there is a need to
86	develop a program to educate the public about solar energy and
87	promote the Solar Energy System Incentives Program.
88	Section 4.  The Department of Environmental Protection
89	shall establish and publicize a toll-free hotline that provides
90	information about solar photovoltaic energy and the solar
91	photovoltaic energy system incentive described in s. 377.806,
92	Florida Statutes. The department shall also create promotional
93	materials to publicize the solar photovoltaic system incentive.
94	Section 5.  For the 2007-2008 fiscal year, the sum of
95	$61,379 is appropriated from the General Revenue Fund to the
96	Department of Revenue for the purpose of administering the
97	energy-efficient products sales tax holiday pursuant to s.
98	212.0803, Florida Statutes.
99	Section 6.  For the 2007-2008 fiscal year, the sum of
100	$17,174,000 in nonrecurring funds is appropriated from the
101	General Revenue Fund and $12,826,000 in nonrecurring funds is
102	appropriated from the Grants and Donations Trust Fund in the
103	Department of Environmental Protection for the purpose of
104	funding the Renewable Energy Technologies Grants Program
105	established in s. 377.804, Florida Statutes. Of the general
106	revenue funds, $10 million are contingent upon the coordination
107	between the Department of Environmental Protection and the
108	Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services pursuant to s.
109	377.804(6), Florida Statutes.
110	Section 7.  For the 2007-2008 fiscal year, the sum of $5
111	million in nonrecurring funds is appropriated from the General
112	Revenue Fund to the Department of Environmental Protection for
113	the purpose of funding commercial and consumer solar incentives
114	authorized in s. 377.806, Florida Statutes.
115	Section 8.  For the 2007-2008 fiscal year, the sum of
116	$50,000 in nonrecurring funds is appropriated from the General
117	Revenue Fund to the Department of Environmental Protection for
118	the purpose of publicizing solar photovoltaic energy.
119	Section 9.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2007.

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