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The Committee on Agriculture (Carlton) recommended the following

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amendment:

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     Senate Amendment (with title amendment)

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     Between line(s) 37 and 38,

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insert:

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     Section 2.  Paragraph (e) of subsection (3) of section

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601.15, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

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     601.15  Advertising campaign; methods of conducting; excise

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tax; emergency reserve fund; citrus research.--

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     (3)

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     (e)  The commission, upon an affirmative vote of a majority

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of its members and by an order entered by it prior to November

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August 1 of any year, may set the tax rates up to the maximum

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rates specified in this subsection if the commission determines

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that the specified tax rate will result in collection of funds,

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during the ensuing citrus season, which exceed projected needs,

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including all legal obligations. The tax rate shall apply only

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to the citrus season which began on August 1 of the same

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calendar year immediately follows entry of the order setting the

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rate. Such tax rate may be applied by variety and on the basis

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of whether the fruit enters the primary channel of trade for use

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in fresh or processed form. If the commission cannot agree on a

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box tax rate, the tax rate for the previous year shall remain in

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effect until the commission approves a new rate.

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================ T I T L E  A M E N D M E N T ================

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And the title is amended as follows:

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     On line 6, after the semicolon,

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insert:

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amending s. 601.15, F.S.; revising the deadline by which

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the Florida Citrus Commission may set the annual citrus

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excise tax rate; deleting a provision requiring the

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commission to consider certain projected collection of

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taxes in setting the rate; conforming provisions relating

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to the season upon which the tax rate applies;

3/26/2008  9:56:00 AM     23-04962-08