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A bill to be entitled

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An act relating to state economic development incentives

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for the recreational marine industry; creating the

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Recreational Marine Business Retention Program within

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Enterprise Florida, Inc.; providing goals for the program,

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including recruiting new marine businesses, supporting

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existing recreational marine businesses in the state, and

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promoting the state's recreational marine industry through

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various venues; requiring Enterprise Florida, Inc., in

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conjunction with the Department of Environmental

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Protection, to submit a report to the Legislature

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regarding the effect of an expedited permitting process on

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the goals of the program; requiring Enterprise Florida,

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Inc., to work with the Office of Tourism, Trade, and

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Economic Development to provide additional tax incentives

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for the recreational marine industry; providing an

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effective date.

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

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     Section 1. (1) In order to aid the recreational marine

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industry in this state, the Recreational Marine Business

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Retention Program is created in Enterprise Florida, Inc., with

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the mission of retaining marine industry businesses in this

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state, recruiting businesses to establish operations in the

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state, and generally supporting the state's recreational marine

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industry. In meeting its mission, the program shall:

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     (a) Recruit boat manufacturers and marine accessory

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manufacturers to establish operations in the state;

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     (b) Support the growth of recreational marine businesses

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presently operating in the state;

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     (c) Promote the state's recreational marine industry at

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trade shows and through media advertisements and a website; and

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     (d) Monitor trends in public marine water access and any

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loss or gain of marina and boatyard facilities in the state and

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any gain or loss in recreational marine businesses to other

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states. The program shall annually submit a report to the

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Legislature on its findings regarding such issues.

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     (2) Enterprise Florida, Inc., in conjunction with the

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Department of Environmental Protection shall submit a report to

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the Legislature by November 1, 2008, detailing how the permitting

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process can be revised to expedite permitting so as to facilitate

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the goals of this section.

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     (3) Enterprise Florida, Inc., shall work with the Office of

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Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development in the Executive Office

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of the Governor to designate the recreational marine industry as

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a qualified target industry for purposes of inclusion in the

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Qualified Target Industry Tax Refund Program established in s.

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288.106, Florida Statutes, and to adjust the wage eligibility

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criteria for inclusion in the program to encourage increased

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participation by the recreational marine industry.

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