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A bill to be entitled

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An act relating to the charter county transit system

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surtax; amending s. 212.055, F.S.; renaming the surtax;

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expanding the eligibility to levy the surtax to all

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charter counties; providing an effective date.

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

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     Section 1.  Subsection (1) of section 212.055, Florida

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Statutes, is amended to read:

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     212.055  Discretionary sales surtaxes; legislative intent;

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authorization and use of proceeds.--It is the legislative intent

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that any authorization for imposition of a discretionary sales

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surtax shall be published in the Florida Statutes as a subsection

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of this section, irrespective of the duration of the levy. Each

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enactment shall specify the types of counties authorized to levy;

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the rate or rates which may be imposed; the maximum length of

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time the surtax may be imposed, if any; the procedure which must

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be followed to secure voter approval, if required; the purpose

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for which the proceeds may be expended; and such other

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requirements as the Legislature may provide. Taxable transactions

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and administrative procedures shall be as provided in s. 212.054.

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     (1) CHARTER COUNTY TRANSPORTATION TRANSIT SYSTEM SURTAX.--

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     (a) Each charter county that has which adopted a charter

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prior to January 1, 1984, and each county the government of which

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is consolidated with that of one or more municipalities, may levy

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a discretionary sales surtax, subject to approval by a majority

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vote of the electorate of the county or by a charter amendment

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approved by a majority vote of the electorate of the county.

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     (b)  The rate shall be up to 1 percent.

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     (c)  The proposal to adopt a discretionary sales surtax as

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provided in this subsection and to create a trust fund within the

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county accounts shall be placed on the ballot in accordance with

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law at a time to be set at the discretion of the governing body.

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     (d)  Proceeds from the surtax shall be applied to as many or

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as few of the uses enumerated below in whatever combination the

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county commission deems appropriate:

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     1.  Deposited by the county in the trust fund and shall be

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used for the purposes of development, construction, equipment,

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maintenance, operation, supportive services, including a

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countywide bus system, and related costs of a fixed guideway

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rapid transit system;

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     2.  Remitted by the governing body of the county to an

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expressway, transit, or transportation authority created by law

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to be used, at the discretion of such authority, for the

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development, construction, operation, or maintenance of roads or

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bridges in the county, for the operation and maintenance of a bus

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system, for the payment of principal and interest on existing

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bonds issued for the construction of such roads or bridges, and,

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upon approval by the county commission, such proceeds may be

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pledged for bonds issued to refinance existing bonds or new bonds

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issued for the construction of such roads or bridges;

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     3.  Used by the charter county for the development,

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construction, operation, and maintenance of roads and bridges in

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the county; for the expansion, operation, and maintenance of bus

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and fixed guideway systems; and for the payment of principal and

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interest on bonds issued for the construction of fixed guideway

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rapid transit systems, bus systems, roads, or bridges; and such

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proceeds may be pledged by the governing body of the county for

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bonds issued to refinance existing bonds or new bonds issued for

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the construction of such fixed guideway rapid transit systems,

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bus systems, roads, or bridges and no more than 25 percent used

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for nontransit uses; and

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     4.  Used by the charter county for the planning,

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development, construction, operation, and maintenance of roads

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and bridges in the county; for the planning, development,

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expansion, operation, and maintenance of bus and fixed guideway

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systems; and for the payment of principal and interest on bonds

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issued for the construction of fixed guideway rapid transit

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systems, bus systems, roads, or bridges; and such proceeds may be

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pledged by the governing body of the county for bonds issued to

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refinance existing bonds or new bonds issued for the construction

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of such fixed guideway rapid transit systems, bus systems, roads,

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or bridges. Pursuant to an interlocal agreement entered into

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pursuant to chapter 163, the governing body of the charter county

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may distribute proceeds from the tax to a municipality, or an

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expressway or transportation authority created by law to be

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expended for the purpose authorized by this paragraph.

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     Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2008.