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A bill to be entitled

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An act relating to the use of public moneys and property;

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providing definitions; prohibiting the use of public funds

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for certain purposes benefiting a professional sports

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team; providing exceptions; amending s. 196.199, F.S.;

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providing for the ad valorem taxation of property owned by

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a governmental entity if the property is used by a private

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entity for a nonexempt purpose; providing effective dates.

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

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

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     (a) "Governmental entity" means the state, a county, a

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municipality, or an entity created by and acting on behalf of the

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state, a county, or a municipality.

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     (b) "Professional sports team" means a professional sports

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franchise that exists within the National League or the American

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League of Major League Baseball, the National Basketball

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Association, the National Football League, or the National Hockey

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League.

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     (c) "Public funds" means any moneys held by a governmental

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entity.

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     (2) Notwithstanding any other law and except as provided in

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subsection (3), a governmental entity may not spend public funds

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in aid of a professional sports team, to pay for a facility used

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or intended to be used for such a team, or for a sporting event

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of such a team unless the expenditure has been approved by a

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majority vote of the registered electors residing within the

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jurisdictional boundaries of the governmental entity.

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     (3) This section does not prohibit the expenditure of funds

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to meet a legally binding obligation of a governmental entity

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which was created before July 1, 2008, or to compensate an

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employee of a governmental entity for an activity that is within

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the scope of his or her employment which assists a professional

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sports team in an incidental manner, such as advising a

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professional sports team of applicable regulatory requirements.

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     Section 2.  Effective January 1, 2009, subsection (11) is

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added to section 196.199, Florida Statutes, to read:

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     196.199  Government property exemption.--

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     (11) Property that is owned by a governmental entity and

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that is otherwise exempt or immune from taxation is taxable if

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the property is used by a private entity in any manner other than

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predominantly for a governmental, charitable, literary,

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religious, scientific, or educational purpose.

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     Section 3.  Except as otherwise expressly provided in this

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act, this act shall take effect July 1, 2008.