CS for CS for SB 482 First Engrossed

2008482e1

1

A bill to be entitled

2

An act relating to affordable housing; amending s.

3

193.018, F.S.; providing for the assessment of property

4

receiving the low-income housing tax credit; defining the

5

term "community land trust"; providing for the assessment

6

of structural improvements, condominium parcels, and

7

cooperative parcels on land owned by a community land

8

trust and used to provide affordable housing; providing

9

for the conveyance of structural improvements, condominium

10

parcels, and cooperative parcels subject to certain

11

conditions; specifying the criteria to be used in arriving

12

at just valuation of a structural improvement, condominium

13

parcel, or cooperative parcel; amending s. 212.055, F.S.;

14

redefining the term "infrastructure" to allow the proceeds

15

of a local government infrastructure surtax to be used to

16

purchase land for the construction of affordable or

17

workforce housing units; amending s. 420.503, F.S.;

18

defining the term "moderate rehabilitation" for purposes

19

of the Florida Housing Finance Corporation Act; amending

20

s. 420.5087, F.S.; revising purposes for which State

21

Apartment Incentive Loans may be used; amending s.

22

420.5095, F.S.; requiring that certain funds related to

23

the Community Workforce Housing Innovation Pilot Program

24

be made available for workforce housing  for teachers and

25

instructional personnel; requiring that the Florida

26

Housing Finance Corporation select projects for funding

27

based on certain criteria; amending s. 420.9071, F.S.;

28

defining the terms "assisted housing," "assisted housing

29

development," and "preservation"; revising the definition

30

of "eligible housing," "local housing incentive

31

strategies," and "recaptured funds" for purposes of the

32

State Housing Initiatives Partnership Act; amending s.

33

420.9072, F.S.; revising provisions related to the

34

administration of certain funds in the Local Government

35

Housing Trust Fund; amending s. 420.9073, F.S.; revising

36

requirements for distribution of funds in the Local

37

Government Housing Trust Fund; specifying purposes for

38

which such withheld funds may be used; clarifying purposes

39

for which certain local governments may expend funds from

40

the Local Government Housing Trust Fund; amending s.

41

420.9075, F.S.; requiring that local housing assistance

42

plans address the special housing needs of persons with

43

disabilities; authorizing the Florida Housing Finance

44

Corporation to define "high-cost counties" by rule;

45

authorizing high-cost counties or eligible municipalities

46

within high-cost counties to assist persons meeting

47

specific income requirements; revising requirements to be

48

included in the local housing assistance plan; requiring

49

counties and certain municipalities to include certain

50

strategies in the local housing assistance plan; revising

51

criteria that applies to awards made for the purpose of

52

providing affordable housing; authorizing and limiting the

53

percentage of funds from the local housing distribution

54

that may be used for certain manufactured housing;

55

extending the expiration date of an exemption from certain

56

income requirements in specified areas; authorizing the

57

use of certain funds for preconstruction activities;

58

providing that certain costs are a program expense;

59

authorizing counties and certain municipalities to award

60

grant funds under certain conditions; providing for the

61

repayment of funds by counties or certain municipalities;

62

amending provisions related to the administration of

63

certain funds in the Local Government Housing Trust Fund;

64

amending s. 420.9076, F.S.; revising appointments to a

65

local affordable housing advisory committee; deleting

66

cross-references to conform to changes made by the act;

67

deleting provisions related to the administration of

68

certain funds by the Local Government Housing Trust Fund;

69

amending s. 420.9079, F.S.; conforming cross-references;

70

amending s. 421.08, F.S.; limiting the authority of

71

housing authorities in certain circumstances; amending s.

72

1001.43, F.S.; revising district school board powers and

73

duties in relation to use of land for affordable housing

74

in certain areas for certain personnel; amending s.

75

159.807, F.S.; revising an exemption for the Florida

76

Housing Finance Corporation from the applicability of

77

certain uses of the state allocation pool; repealing s.

78

420.9078, F.S., relating to state administration of funds

79

remaining in the Local Government Housing Trust Fund;

80

amending ss. 212.08, 220.03, and 220.183, F.S.; conforming

81

cross-references to changes made by the act; amending s.

82

624.5105, F.S.; conforming cross-references to changes

83

made by the act; providing an effective date.

84

85

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

86

87

     Section 1.  Section 193.018, Florida Statutes, is created to

88

read:

89

     193.018 Land owned by a community land trust used to

90

provide affordable housing.--

91

     (1) As used in this section, the term "community land

92

trust" means a nonprofit entity that is qualified as charitable

93

under s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and has as one of

94

its purposes the acquisition of land to be held in perpetuity for

95

the primary purpose of providing affordable homeownership.

96

     (2) A community land trust may convey structural

97

improvements, condominium parcels, or cooperative parcels,

98

located on specific parcels of land which are identified by a

99

legal description contained in and subject to a ground lease

100

having a term of at least 99 years, for the purpose of providing

101

affordable housing to natural persons or families who meet the

102

extremely low, very-low, low, or moderate income limits specified

103

in s. 420.0004, or the income limits for workforce housing as

104

specified in s. 420.5095(3). A community land trust shall retain

105

a preemptive option to purchase any structural improvements,

106

condominium parcels, or cooperative parcels on the land at a

107

price determined by a formula specified in the ground lease

108

designed to ensure that such structural improvements, condominium

109

parcels, or cooperative parcels remain affordable.

110

     (3) In arriving at just valuation under s. 193.011, a

111

structural improvement, condominium parcel, or cooperative parcel

112

providing affordable housing on land owned by a community land

113

trust, and the land owned by a community land trust that is

114

subject to a 99-year or longer ground lease, shall be assessed

115

using the following criteria:

116

     (a) The amount a willing purchaser would pay a willing

117

seller for the land is limited to an amount commensurate with the

118

terms of the ground lease which restricts the use of the land to

119

the provision of affordable housing in perpetuity.

120

     (b) The amount a willing purchaser would pay a willing

121

seller for the resale-restricted improvements, condominium

122

parcel, or cooperative parcel is limited to the amount determined

123

by the formula in the ground lease.

124

     (c) If the ground lease and all amendments and supplements

125

thereto, or a memorandum documenting how such lease and

126

amendments or supplements restrict the price at which the

127

improvements, condominium parcel, or cooperative parcel may be

128

sold, is recorded in the official public records of the county in

129

which the leased land is located, the recorded lease and any

130

amendments or supplements, or the recorded memorandum, shall be

131

deemed a land use regulation during the term of the lease as

132

amended or supplemented.

133

     Section 2.  Subsection (5) is added to section 196.196,

134

Florida Statutes, to read:

135

     196.196  Determining whether property is entitled to

136

charitable, religious, scientific, or literary exemption.--

137

     (5) Property owned by an exempt organization qualified as

138

charitable under s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code is

139

used for a charitable purpose if the organization has taken

140

affirmative steps to prepare the property to provide affordable

141

housing to persons or families that meet the extremely-low-

142

income, very-low-income, low-income, or moderate-income limits

143

specified in s. 420.0004. For purposes of this subsection, the

144

term "affirmative steps" means environmental or land use

145

permitting activities, the creation of architectural plans or

146

schematic drawings, land clearing or site preparation,

147

construction or renovation activities, or other similar

148

activities that demonstrate a commitment by the exempt entity to

149

use of the property to provide affordable housing.

150

     Section 3.  Section 196.1978, Florida Statutes, is amended

151

to read:

152

     196.1978  Affordable housing property exemption.--

153

     (1) Property used to provide affordable housing serving

154

eligible persons as defined by s. 159.603(7) and natural persons

155

or families meeting the extremely-low-income, very-low-income,

156

low-income, or moderate-income persons meeting income limits

157

specified in s. 420.0004 s. 420.0004(8), (10), (11), and (15),

158

which property is owned entirely by a nonprofit entity that is a

159

corporation not for profit, qualified as charitable under s.

160

501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and in compliance with

161

Rev. Proc. 96-32, 1996-1 C.B. 717, or a Florida-based limited

162

partnership, the sole general partner of which is a corporation

163

not for profit which is qualified as charitable under s.

164

501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and which complies with

165

Rev. Proc. 96-32, 1996-1 C.B. 717, shall be considered property

166

owned by an exempt entity and used for a charitable purpose, and

167

those portions of the affordable housing property which provide

168

housing to natural persons or families classified as extremely-

169

low income, very-low income, low-income, or moderate-income under

170

s. 420.0004 individuals with incomes as defined in s.

171

420.0004(10) and (15) shall be exempt from ad valorem taxation to

172

the extent authorized in s. 196.196. All property identified in

173

this section shall comply with the criteria for determination of

174

exempt status to be applied by property appraisers on an annual

175

basis as defined in s. 196.195. The Legislature intends that any

176

property owned by a limited liability company or limited

177

partnership which is disregarded as an entity for federal income

178

tax purposes pursuant to Treasury Regulation 301.7701-3(b)(1)(ii)

179

shall be treated as owned by its sole member or sole general

180

partner.

181

     (2) If property owned by an organization granted an

182

exemption under s. 196.196(5) is transferred for a purpose other

183

than directly providing affordable housing to persons or families

184

who meet the extremely-low-income, very-low-income, low-income,

185

or moderate-income limits, as specified in s. 420.0004, or is not

186

actually used to provide affordable housing within 5 years after

187

the date the organization is initially granted the exemption, the

188

property appraiser making the determination shall serve upon the

189

organization that illegally or improperly received the exemption

190

a notice of intent to record in the public records of the county

191

where the property is located a notice of tax lien against any

192

property owned by that organization in the county, and such

193

property shall be identified in the notice of tax lien. The

194

organization owning such property is subject to the taxes

195

otherwise due and owing as a result of the failure to use the

196

property to provide affordable housing plus 15 percent interest

197

per annum and a penalty of 50 percent of the taxes owed. The tax

198

lien, when filed, attaches to any property identified in the

199

notice of tax lien owned by the organization that illegally or

200

improperly received the exemption. If the organization no longer

201

owns property in the county but owns property in any other county

202

in the state, the property appraiser shall record in each other

203

county a notice of tax lien identifying the property owned by

204

such organization in the county which shall become a tax lien

205

against the identified property. If an exemption is improperly

206

granted as a result of a clerical mistake or an omission by the

207

property appraiser, the organization improperly receiving the

208

exemption may not be assessed penalty and interest. Prior to the

209

filing of a tax lien, the organization that received the written

210

notice of intent must be given 30 days to pay the taxes,

211

penalties, and interest. The 5-year limitation specified in this

212

subsection may be extended provided the holder of the exemption

213

continues to take affirmative steps to develop the property for

214

the purposes specified in s. 196.196(5).

215

     Section 4.  Paragraph (d) of subsection (2) of section

216

212.055, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

217

     212.055  Discretionary sales surtaxes; legislative intent;

218

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

219

that any authorization for imposition of a discretionary sales

220

surtax shall be published in the Florida Statutes as a subsection

221

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

222

enactment shall specify the types of counties authorized to levy;

223

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

224

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

225

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

226

for which the proceeds may be expended; and such other

227

requirements as the Legislature may provide. Taxable transactions

228

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

229

     (2)  LOCAL GOVERNMENT INFRASTRUCTURE SURTAX.--

230

     (d)1. The proceeds of the surtax authorized by this

231

subsection and any accrued interest accrued thereto shall be

232

expended by the school district, or within the county and

233

municipalities within the county, or, in the case of a negotiated

234

joint county agreement, within another county, to finance, plan,

235

and construct infrastructure; and to acquire land for public

236

recreation, or conservation, or protection of natural resources;

237

or and to finance the closure of county-owned or municipally

238

owned solid waste landfills that have been are already closed or

239

are required to be closed close by order of the Department of

240

Environmental Protection. Any use of the such proceeds or

241

interest for purposes of landfill closure before prior to July 1,

242

1993, is ratified. Neither The proceeds and nor any interest may

243

not accrued thereto shall be used for the operational expenses of

244

any infrastructure, except that a any county that has with a

245

population of fewer less than 75,000 and that is required to

246

close a landfill by order of the Department of Environmental

247

Protection may use the proceeds or any interest accrued thereto

248

for long-term maintenance costs associated with landfill closure.

249

Counties, as defined in s. 125.011 s. 125.011(1), and charter

250

counties may, in addition, use the proceeds or and any interest

251

accrued thereto to retire or service indebtedness incurred for

252

bonds issued before prior to July 1, 1987, for infrastructure

253

purposes, and for bonds subsequently issued to refund such bonds.

254

Any use of the such proceeds or interest for purposes of retiring

255

or servicing indebtedness incurred for such refunding bonds

256

before prior to July 1, 1999, is ratified.

257

     1.2. For the purposes of this paragraph, the term

258

"infrastructure" means:

259

     a.  Any fixed capital expenditure or fixed capital outlay

260

associated with the construction, reconstruction, or improvement

261

of public facilities that have a life expectancy of 5 or more

262

years and any related land acquisition, land improvement, design,

263

and engineering costs related thereto.

264

     b.  A fire department vehicle, an emergency medical service

265

vehicle, a sheriff's office vehicle, a police department vehicle,

266

or any other vehicle, and the such equipment necessary to outfit

267

the vehicle for its official use or equipment that has a life

268

expectancy of at least 5 years.

269

     c.  Any expenditure for the construction, lease, or

270

maintenance of, or provision of utilities or security for,

271

facilities, as defined in s. 29.008.

272

     d.  Any fixed capital expenditure or fixed capital outlay

273

associated with the improvement of private facilities that have a

274

life expectancy of 5 or more years and that the owner agrees to

275

make available for use on a temporary basis as needed by a local

276

government as a public emergency shelter or a staging area for

277

emergency response equipment during an emergency officially

278

declared by the state or by the local government under s. 252.38.

279

Such improvements under this sub-subparagraph are limited to

280

those necessary to comply with current standards for public

281

emergency evacuation shelters. The owner must shall enter into a

282

written contract with the local government providing the

283

improvement funding to make the such private facility available

284

to the public for purposes of emergency shelter at no cost to the

285

local government for a minimum period of 10 years after

286

completion of the improvement, with the provision that the such

287

obligation will transfer to any subsequent owner until the end of

288

the minimum period.

289

     e. Any land acquisition expenditure for a residential

290

housing project in which at least 30 percent of the units are

291

affordable to individuals or families whose total annual

292

household income does not exceed 120 percent of the area median

293

income adjusted for household size, if the land is owned by a

294

local government or by a special district that enters into a

295

written agreement with the local government to provide such

296

housing. The local government or special district may enter into

297

a ground lease with a public or private person or entity for

298

nominal or other consideration for the construction of the

299

residential housing project on land acquired pursuant to this

300

sub-subparagraph.

301

     2.3. Notwithstanding any other provision of this

302

subsection, a local government infrastructure discretionary sales

303

surtax imposed or extended after July 1, 1998, the effective date

304

of this act may allocate up to provide for an amount not to

305

exceed 15 percent of the local option sales surtax proceeds to be

306

allocated for deposit in to a trust fund within the county's

307

accounts created for the purpose of funding economic development

308

projects having of a general public purpose of improving targeted

309

to improve local economies, including the funding of operational

310

costs and incentives related to such economic development. The

311

ballot statement must indicate the intention to make an

312

allocation under the authority of this subparagraph.

313

     Section 5.  Present subsections (25) through (41) of section

314

420.503, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (26)

315

through (42), respectively, and a new subsection (25) is added to

316

that section, to read:

317

     420.503  Definitions.--As used in this part, the term:

318

     (25) "Moderate rehabilitation" means repair or restoration

319

of a dwelling unit when the value of such repair or restoration

320

is 40 percent or less of the value of the dwelling unit but not

321

less than $10,000.

322

     Section 6.  Paragraph (l) of subsection (6) of section

323

420.5087, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

324

     420.5087  State Apartment Incentive Loan Program.--There is

325

hereby created the State Apartment Incentive Loan Program for the

326

purpose of providing first, second, or other subordinated

327

mortgage loans or loan guarantees to sponsors, including for-

328

profit, nonprofit, and public entities, to provide housing

329

affordable to very-low-income persons.

330

     (6)  On all state apartment incentive loans, except loans

331

made to housing communities for the elderly to provide for

332

lifesafety, building preservation, health, sanitation, or

333

security-related repairs or improvements, the following

334

provisions shall apply:

335

     (l)  The proceeds of all loans shall be used for new

336

construction, moderate rehabilitation, or substantial

337

rehabilitation that which creates or preserves affordable, safe,

338

and sanitary housing units.

339

     Section 7.  Subsection (17) is added to section 420.5095,

340

Florida Statutes, to read:

341

     420.5095  Community Workforce Housing Innovation Pilot

342

Program.--

343

     (17) Funds appropriated by s. 33, chapter 2006-69, Laws of

344

Florida, which were awarded but have been declined or returned,

345

shall be made available for projects that otherwise comply with

346

this section and are created to provide workforce housing for

347

teachers and instructional personnel employed by the school

348

district in the county in which the project is located.

349

     (a) Projects shall be given priority for funding if:

350

     1. The school district provides the property for the

351

project pursuant to s. 1001.43;

352

     2. The public-private partnership includes the school

353

district and a national nonprofit organization to provide

354

financial support, technical assistance, and training for

355

community-based revitalization efforts; or

356

     3. The project is located in a county in which a project

357

selected for funding under this section did not go forward.

358

     (b) Projects shall be selected for funding by requests for

359

proposals.

360

     Section 8.  Section 420.9071, Florida Statutes, is amended

361

to read:

362

     420.9071  Definitions.--As used in ss. 420.907-420.9079, the

363

term:

364

     (1)  "Adjusted for family size" means adjusted in a manner

365

that results in an income eligibility level that is lower for

366

households having fewer than four people, or higher for

367

households having more than four people, than the base income

368

eligibility determined as provided in subsection (20) (19),

369

subsection (21) (20), or subsection (30) (28), based upon a

370

formula established by the United States Department of Housing

371

and Urban Development.

372

     (2)  "Affordable" means that monthly rents or monthly

373

mortgage payments including taxes and insurance do not exceed 30

374

percent of that amount which represents the percentage of the

375

median annual gross income for the households as indicated in

376

subsection (20) (19), subsection (21) (20), or subsection (30)

377

(28). However, it is not the intent to limit an individual

378

household's ability to devote more than 30 percent of its income

379

for housing, and housing for which a household devotes more than

380

30 percent of its income shall be deemed affordable if the first

381

institutional mortgage lender is satisfied that the household can

382

afford mortgage payments in excess of the 30 percent benchmark.

383

     (3)  "Affordable housing advisory committee" means the

384

committee appointed by the governing body of a county or eligible

385

municipality for the purpose of recommending specific initiatives

386

and incentives to encourage or facilitate affordable housing as

387

provided in s. 420.9076.

388

     (4)  "Annual gross income" means annual income as defined

389

under the Section 8 housing assistance payments programs in 24

390

C.F.R. part 5; annual income as reported under the census long

391

form for the recent available decennial census; or adjusted gross

392

income as defined for purposes of reporting under Internal

393

Revenue Service Form 1040 for individual federal annual income

394

tax purposes; or other method of verifying income as provided by

395

rule of the corporation. Counties and eligible municipalities

396

shall calculate income by annualizing verified sources of income

397

for the household as the amount of income to be received in a

398

household during the 12 months following the effective date of

399

the determination.

400

     (5) "Assisted housing" or "assisted housing development"

401

means a rental housing development, including rental housing in a

402

mixed-use development, which has received or currently receives

403

funding from any federal or state housing program.

404

     (6)(5) "Award" means a loan, grant, or subsidy funded

405

wholly or partially by the local housing assistance trust fund.

406

     (7)(6) "Community-based organization" means a nonprofit

407

organization that has among its purposes the provision of

408

affordable housing to persons who have special needs or have very

409

low income, low income, or moderate income within a designated

410

area, which may include a municipality, a county, or more than

411

one municipality or county, and maintains, through a minimum of

412

one-third representation on the organization's governing board,

413

accountability to housing program beneficiaries and residents of

414

the designated area. A community housing development organization

415

established pursuant to 24 C.F.R. part 92.2 and a community

416

development corporation created pursuant to chapter 290 are

417

examples of community-based organizations.

418

     (8)(7) "Corporation" means the Florida Housing Finance

419

Corporation.

420

     (9)(8) "Eligible housing" means any real and personal

421

property located within the county or the eligible municipality

422

which is designed and intended for the primary purpose of

423

providing decent, safe, and sanitary residential units that are

424

designed to meet the standards of the Florida Building Code or

425

previous building codes adopted under chapter 553, or

426

manufactured housing constructed after June 1994 and installed in

427

accordance with the installation standards for mobile or

428

manufactured homes contained in rules of the Department of

429

Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, for home ownership or rental

430

for eligible persons as designated by each county or eligible

431

municipality participating in the State Housing Initiatives

432

Partnership Program.

433

     (10)(9) "Eligible municipality" means a municipality that

434

is eligible for federal community development block grant

435

entitlement moneys as an entitlement community identified in 24

436

C.F.R. s. 570, subpart D, Entitlement Grants, or a nonentitlement

437

municipality that is receiving local housing distribution funds

438

under an interlocal agreement that provides for possession and

439

administrative control of funds to be transferred to the

440

nonentitlement municipality. An eligible municipality that defers

441

its participation in community development block grants does not

442

affect its eligibility for participation in the State Housing

443

Initiatives Partnership Program.

444

     (11)(10) "Eligible person" or "eligible household" means

445

one or more natural persons or a family determined by the county

446

or eligible municipality to be of very low income, low income, or

447

moderate income according to the income limits adjusted to family

448

size published annually by the United States Department of

449

Housing and Urban Development based upon the annual gross income

450

of the household.

451

     (12)(11) "Eligible sponsor" means a person or a private or

452

public for-profit or not-for-profit entity that applies for an

453

award under the local housing assistance plan for the purpose of

454

providing eligible housing for eligible persons.

455

     (13)(12) "Grant" means an award from the local housing

456

assistance trust fund to an eligible sponsor or eligible person

457

to partially assist in the construction, rehabilitation, or

458

financing of eligible housing or to provide the cost of tenant or

459

ownership qualifications without requirement for repayment as

460

long as the condition of award is maintained.

461

     (14)(13) "Loan" means an award from the local housing

462

assistance trust fund to an eligible sponsor or eligible person

463

to partially finance the acquisition, construction, or

464

rehabilitation of eligible housing with requirement for repayment

465

or provision for forgiveness of repayment if the condition of the

466

award is maintained.

467

     (15)(14) "Local housing assistance plan" means a concise

468

description of the local housing assistance strategies and local

469

housing incentive strategies adopted by local government

470

resolution with an explanation of the way in which the program

471

meets the requirements of ss. 420.907-420.9079 and corporation

472

rule.

473

     (16)(15) "Local housing assistance strategies" means the

474

housing construction, rehabilitation, repair, or finance program

475

implemented by a participating county or eligible municipality

476

with the local housing distribution or other funds deposited into

477

the local housing assistance trust fund.

478

     (17)(16) "Local housing incentive strategies" means local

479

regulatory reform or incentive programs to encourage or

480

facilitate affordable housing production, which include at a

481

minimum, assurance that permits as defined in s. 163.3164(7) and

482

(8) for affordable housing projects are expedited to a greater

483

degree than other projects; an ongoing process for review of

484

local policies, ordinances, regulations, and plan provisions that

485

increase the cost of housing prior to their adoption; and a

486

schedule for implementing the incentive strategies. Local housing

487

incentive strategies may also include other regulatory reforms,

488

such as those enumerated in s. 420.9076 or those recommended by

489

the affordable housing advisory committee in its triennial

490

evaluation of the implementation of affordable housing

491

incentives, and adopted by the local governing body.

492

     (18)(17) "Local housing distributions" means the proceeds

493

of the taxes collected under chapter 201 deposited into the Local

494

Government Housing Trust Fund and distributed to counties and

495

eligible municipalities participating in the State Housing

496

Initiatives Partnership Program pursuant to s. 420.9073.

497

     (19)(18) "Local housing partnership" means the

498

implementation of the local housing assistance plan in a manner

499

that involves the applicable county or eligible municipality,

500

lending institutions, housing builders and developers, real

501

estate professionals, advocates for low-income persons,

502

community-based housing and service organizations, and providers

503

of professional services relating to affordable housing. The term

504

includes initiatives to provide support services for housing

505

program beneficiaries such as training to prepare persons for the

506

responsibility of homeownership, counseling of tenants, and the

507

establishing of support services such as day care, health care,

508

and transportation.

509

     (20)(19) "Low-income person" or "low-income household"

510

means one or more natural persons or a family that has a total

511

annual gross household income that does not exceed 80 percent of

512

the median annual income adjusted for family size for households

513

within the metropolitan statistical area, the county, or the

514

nonmetropolitan median for the state, whichever amount is

515

greatest. With respect to rental units, the low-income

516

household's annual income at the time of initial occupancy may

517

not exceed 80 percent of the area's median income adjusted for

518

family size. While occupying the rental unit, a low-income

519

household's annual income may increase to an amount not to exceed

520

140 percent of 80 percent of the area's median income adjusted

521

for family size.

522

     (21)(20) "Moderate-income person" or "moderate-income

523

household" means one or more natural persons or a family that has

524

a total annual gross household income that does not exceed 120

525

percent of the median annual income adjusted for family size for

526

households within the metropolitan statistical area, the county,

527

or the nonmetropolitan median for the state, whichever is

528

greatest. With respect to rental units, the moderate-income

529

household's annual income at the time of initial occupancy may

530

not exceed 120 percent of the area's median income adjusted for

531

family size. While occupying the rental unit, a moderate-income

532

household's annual income may increase to an amount not to exceed

533

140 percent of 120 percent of the area's median income adjusted

534

for family size.

535

     (22)(21) "Personal property" means major appliances,

536

including a freestanding refrigerator or stove, to be identified

537

on the encumbering documents.

538

     (23)(22) "Plan amendment" means the addition or deletion of

539

a local housing assistance strategy or local housing incentive

540

strategy. Plan amendments must at all times maintain consistency

541

with program requirements and must be submitted to the

542

corporation for review pursuant to s. 420.9072(3). Technical or

543

clarifying revisions may not be considered plan amendments but

544

must be transmitted to the corporation for purposes of

545

notification.

546

     (24) "Preservation" means efforts taken to keep rents in

547

existing assisted housing or existing assisted housing

548

developments affordable for extremely low, very-low, low, and

549

moderate-income households while ensuring that such property

550

stays in good physical and financial condition for an extended

551

period.

552

     (25)(23) "Population" means the latest official state

553

estimate of population certified pursuant to s. 186.901 prior to

554

the beginning of the state fiscal year.

555

     (26)(24) "Program income" means the proceeds derived from

556

interest earned on or investment of the local housing

557

distribution and other funds deposited into the local housing

558

assistance trust fund, proceeds from loan repayments, recycled

559

funds, and all other income derived from use of funds deposited

560

in the local housing assistance trust fund. It does not include

561

recaptured funds as defined in subsection (27) (25).

562

     (27)(25) "Recaptured funds" means funds that are recouped

563

by a county or eligible municipality in accordance with the

564

recapture provisions of its local housing assistance plan

565

pursuant to s. 420.9075(5)(h) s. 420.9075(5)(g) from eligible

566

persons or eligible sponsors where the funds were not used for

567

assistance to an eligible household for an eligible activity, or

568

where there is a who default on the terms of a grant award or

569

loan award.

570

     (28)(26) "Rent subsidies" means ongoing monthly rental

571

assistance. The term does not include initial assistance to

572

tenants, such as grants or loans for security and utility

573

deposits.

574

     (29)(27) "Sales price" or "value" means, in the case of

575

acquisition of an existing or newly constructed unit, the amount

576

on the executed sales contract. For eligible persons who are

577

building a unit on land that they own, the sales price is

578

determined by an appraisal performed by a state-certified

579

appraiser. The appraisal must include the value of the land and

580

the improvements using the after-construction value of the

581

property and must be dated within 12 months of the date

582

construction is to commence. The sales price of any unit must

583

include the value of the land in order to qualify as eligible

584

housing as defined in subsection (9) (8). In the case of

585

rehabilitation or emergency repair of an existing unit that does

586

not create additional living space, sales price or value means

587

the value of the real property, as determined by an appraisal

588

performed by a state-certified appraiser and dated within 12

589

months of the date construction is to commence or the assessed

590

value of the real property as determined by the county property

591

appraiser. In the case of rehabilitation of an existing unit that

592

includes the addition of new living space, sales price or value

593

means the value of the real property, as determined by an

594

appraisal performed by a state-certified appraiser and dated

595

within 12 months of the date construction is to commence or the

596

assessed value of the real property as determined by the county

597

property appraiser, plus the cost of the improvements in either

598

case.

599

     (30)(28) "Very-low-income person" or "very-low-income

600

household" means one or more natural persons or a family that has

601

a total annual gross household income that does not exceed 50

602

percent of the median annual income adjusted for family size for

603

households within the metropolitan statistical area, the county,

604

or the nonmetropolitan median for the state, whichever is

605

greatest. With respect to rental units, the very-low-income

606

household's annual income at the time of initial occupancy may

607

not exceed 50 percent of the area's median income adjusted for

608

family size. While occupying the rental unit, a very-low-income

609

household's annual income may increase to an amount not to exceed

610

140 percent of 50 percent of the area's median income adjusted

611

for family size.

612

     Section 9.  Subsection (6) of section 420.9072, Florida

613

Statutes, is amended to read:

614

     420.9072  State Housing Initiatives Partnership

615

Program.--The State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program is

616

created for the purpose of providing funds to counties and

617

eligible municipalities as an incentive for the creation of local

618

housing partnerships, to expand production of and preserve

619

affordable housing, to further the housing element of the local

620

government comprehensive plan specific to affordable housing, and

621

to increase housing-related employment.

622

     (6)  The moneys that otherwise would be distributed pursuant

623

to s. 420.9073 to a local government that does not meet the

624

program's requirements for receipts of such distributions shall

625

remain in the Local Government Housing Trust Fund to be

626

administered by the corporation pursuant to s. 420.9078.

627

     Section 10.  Subsections (1), (2), and (3) of section

628

420.9073, Florida Statutes, are amended, and subsections (5),

629

(6), and (7) are added to that section, to read:

630

     420.9073  Local housing distributions.--

631

     (1) Subject to the availability of funds, distributions

632

calculated in this subsection section shall be disbursed on a

633

quarterly or more frequent monthly basis by the corporation

634

beginning the first day of the month after program approval

635

pursuant to s. 420.9072. Each county's share of the funds to be

636

distributed from the portion of the funds in the Local Government

637

Housing Trust Fund received pursuant to s. 201.15(9) shall be

638

calculated by the corporation for each fiscal year as follows:

639

     (a)  Each county other than a county that has implemented

640

the provisions of chapter 83-220, Laws of Florida, as amended by

641

chapters 84-270, 86-152, and 89-252, Laws of Florida, shall

642

receive the guaranteed amount for each fiscal year.

643

     (b)  Each county other than a county that has implemented

644

the provisions of chapter 83-220, Laws of Florida, as amended by

645

chapters 84-270, 86-152, and 89-252, Laws of Florida, may receive

646

an additional share calculated as follows:

647

     1.  Multiply each county's percentage of the total state

648

population excluding the population of any county that has

649

implemented the provisions of chapter 83-220, Laws of Florida, as

650

amended by chapters 84-270, 86-152, and 89-252, Laws of Florida,

651

by the total funds to be distributed.

652

     2.  If the result in subparagraph 1. is less than the

653

guaranteed amount as determined in subsection (3), that county's

654

additional share shall be zero.

655

     3.  For each county in which the result in subparagraph 1.

656

is greater than the guaranteed amount as determined in subsection

657

(3), the amount calculated in subparagraph 1. shall be reduced by

658

the guaranteed amount. The result for each such county shall be

659

expressed as a percentage of the amounts so determined for all

660

counties. Each such county shall receive an additional share

661

equal to such percentage multiplied by the total funds received

662

by the Local Government Housing Trust Fund pursuant to s.

663

201.15(9) reduced by the guaranteed amount paid to all counties.

664

     (2) Subject to the availability of funds Effective July 1,

665

1995, distributions calculated in this subsection section shall

666

be disbursed on a quarterly or more frequent monthly basis by the

667

corporation beginning the first day of the month after program

668

approval pursuant to s. 420.9072. Each county's share of the

669

funds to be distributed from the portion of the funds in the

670

Local Government Housing Trust Fund received pursuant to s.

671

201.15(10) shall be calculated by the corporation for each fiscal

672

year as follows:

673

     (a)  Each county shall receive the guaranteed amount for

674

each fiscal year.

675

     (b)  Each county may receive an additional share calculated

676

as follows:

677

     1.  Multiply each county's percentage of the total state

678

population, by the total funds to be distributed.

679

     2.  If the result in subparagraph 1. is less than the

680

guaranteed amount as determined in subsection (3), that county's

681

additional share shall be zero.

682

     3.  For each county in which the result in subparagraph 1.

683

is greater than the guaranteed amount, the amount calculated in

684

subparagraph 1. shall be reduced by the guaranteed amount. The

685

result for each such county shall be expressed as a percentage of

686

the amounts so determined for all counties. Each such county

687

shall receive an additional share equal to this percentage

688

multiplied by the total funds received by the Local Government

689

Housing Trust Fund pursuant to s. 201.15(10) as reduced by the

690

guaranteed amount paid to all counties.

691

     (3)  Calculation of guaranteed amounts:

692

     (a)  The guaranteed amount under subsection (1) shall be

693

calculated for each state fiscal year by multiplying $350,000 by

694

a fraction, the numerator of which is the amount of funds

695

distributed to the Local Government Housing Trust Fund pursuant

696

to s. 201.15(9) and the denominator of which is the total amount

697

of funds distributed to the Local Government Housing Trust Fund

698

pursuant to s. 201.15 less the total amount withheld, but not

699

more than $10 million as provided in subsections (5) and (6).

700

     (b)  The guaranteed amount under subsection (2) shall be

701

calculated for each state fiscal year by multiplying $350,000 by

702

a fraction, the numerator of which is the amount of funds

703

distributed to the Local Government Housing Trust Fund pursuant

704

to s. 201.15(10) and the denominator of which is the total amount

705

of funds distributed to the Local Government Housing Trust Fund

706

pursuant to s. 201.15 less the total amount withheld, but not

707

more than $10 million as provided in subsections (5) and (6).

708

     (5) Notwithstanding subsections (1)-(4), the corporation

709

may withhold up to $5 million of the total amount distributed

710

each fiscal year from the Local Government Housing Trust Fund to

711

provide additional funding to counties and eligible

712

municipalities where a state of emergency has been declared by

713

the Governor under chapter 252. Any portion of the withheld funds

714

not distributed by the end of the fiscal year shall be

715

distributed as provided in subsections (1) and (2).

716

     (6) Notwithstanding subsections (1)-(4), the corporation

717

may withhold up to $5 million of the total amount distributed

718

each fiscal year from the Local Government Housing Trust Fund to

719

provide funding to counties and eligible municipalities to

720

purchase properties subject to a State Housing Initiatives

721

Partnership Program lien and on which foreclosure proceedings

722

have been instituted by a mortgagee. Each county and eligible

723

municipality receiving funds under this subsection shall repay

724

such funds to the corporation on or before the expenditure

725

deadline for the fiscal year in which the funds were awarded.

726

Amounts not repaid by the county or eligible municipality shall

727

be withheld from the subsequent year's distribution under

728

subsections (1) and (2). Any portion of such funds not

729

distributed under this subsection by the end of the fiscal year

730

shall be distributed as provided in subsections (1) and (2).

731

     (7) A county receiving local housing distributions under

732

this section or an eligible municipality receiving local housing

733

distributions under an interlocal agreement shall expend those

734

funds in accordance with the provisions of ss. 420.907-420.9079,

735

rules of the corporation, and the county's local housing

736

assistance plan.

737

     Section 11.  Subsections (1), (3), (5), (7), and (8),

738

paragraphs (a) and (h) of subsection (10), and paragraph (b) of

739

subsection (13) of section 420.9075, Florida Statutes, are

740

amended, and subsection (14) is added to that section, to read:

741

     420.9075  Local housing assistance plans; partnerships.--

742

     (1)(a)  Each county or eligible municipality participating

743

in the State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program shall

744

develop and implement a local housing assistance plan created to

745

make affordable residential units available to persons of very

746

low income, low income, or moderate income and to persons who

747

have special housing needs, including, but not limited to,

748

homeless people, the elderly, and migrant farmworkers, and

749

persons with disabilities. High-cost counties as defined by rule

750

of the corporation or eligible municipalities within high-cost

751

counties may include strategies to assist persons and households

752

having annual incomes of not more than 140 percent of area median

753

income. The plans are intended to increase the availability of

754

affordable residential units by combining local resources and

755

cost-saving measures into a local housing partnership and using

756

private and public funds to reduce the cost of housing.

757

     (b)  Local housing assistance plans may allocate funds to:

758

     1.  Implement local housing assistance strategies for the

759

provision of affordable housing.

760

     2.  Supplement funds available to the corporation to provide

761

enhanced funding of state housing programs within the county or

762

the eligible municipality.

763

     3.  Provide the local matching share of federal affordable

764

housing grants or programs.

765

     4.  Fund emergency repairs, including, but not limited to,

766

repairs performed by existing service providers under

767

weatherization assistance programs under ss. 409.509-409.5093.

768

     5.  Further the housing element of the local government

769

comprehensive plan adopted pursuant to s. 163.3184, specific to

770

affordable housing.

771

     (3)(a)  Each local housing assistance plan shall include a

772

definition of essential service personnel for the county or

773

eligible municipality, including, but not limited to, teachers

774

and educators, other school district, community college, and

775

university employees, police and fire personnel, health care

776

personnel, skilled building trades personnel, and other job

777

categories.

778

     (b)  Each county and each eligible municipality is

779

encouraged to develop a strategy within its local housing

780

assistance plan that emphasizes the recruitment and retention of

781

essential service personnel. The local government is encouraged

782

to involve public and private sector employers. Compliance with

783

the eligibility criteria established under this strategy shall be

784

verified by the county or eligible municipality.

785

     (c)  Each county and each eligible municipality is

786

encouraged to develop a strategy within its local housing

787

assistance plan that addresses the needs of persons who are

788

deprived of affordable housing due to the closure of a mobile

789

home park or the conversion of affordable rental units to

790

condominiums.

791

     (d) Each county and each eligible municipality shall

792

describe initiatives in the local housing assistance plan to

793

encourage or require innovative design, green building

794

principles, storm-resistant construction, or other elements that

795

reduce long-term costs relating to maintenance, utilities, or

796

insurance.

797

     (e) Each county and each eligible municipality is

798

encouraged to develop a strategy within its local housing

799

assistance plan which provides program funds for the preservation

800

of assisted housing or assisted housing developments.

801

     (5)  The following criteria apply to awards made to eligible

802

sponsors or eligible persons for the purpose of providing

803

eligible housing:

804

     (a)  At least 65 percent of the funds made available in each

805

county and eligible municipality from the local housing

806

distribution must be reserved for home ownership for eligible

807

persons.

808

     (b)  At least 75 percent of the funds made available in each

809

county and eligible municipality from the local housing

810

distribution must be reserved for construction, rehabilitation,

811

or emergency repair of affordable, eligible housing.

812

     (c) Not more than 15 percent of the funds made available in

813

each county and eligible municipality from the local housing

814

distribution may be used for manufactured housing constructed

815

after June 1994 and installed in accordance with the installation

816

standards for mobile or manufactured homes contained in rules of

817

the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

818

     (d)(c) The sales price or value of new or existing eligible

819

housing may not exceed 90 percent of the average area purchase

820

price in the statistical area in which the eligible housing is

821

located. Such average area purchase price may be that calculated

822

for any 12-month period beginning not earlier than the fourth

823

calendar year prior to the year in which the award occurs or as

824

otherwise established by the United States Department of the

825

Treasury.

826

     (e)(d)1. All units constructed, rehabilitated, or otherwise

827

assisted with the funds provided from the local housing

828

assistance trust fund must be occupied by very-low-income

829

persons, low-income persons, and moderate-income persons except

830

as otherwise provided in this section.

831

     2.  At least 30 percent of the funds deposited into the

832

local housing assistance trust fund must be reserved for awards

833

to very-low-income persons or eligible sponsors who will serve

834

very-low-income persons and at least an additional 30 percent of

835

the funds deposited into the local housing assistance trust fund

836

must be reserved for awards to low-income persons or eligible

837

sponsors who will serve low-income persons. This subparagraph

838

does not apply to a county or an eligible municipality that

839

includes, or has included within the previous 5 years, an area of

840

critical state concern designated or ratified by the Legislature

841

for which the Legislature has declared its intent to provide

842

affordable housing. The exemption created by this act expires on

843

July 1, 2013 2008.

844

     (f)(e) Loans shall be provided for periods not exceeding 30

845

years, except for deferred payment loans or loans that extend

846

beyond 30 years which continue to serve eligible persons.

847

     (g)(f) Loans or grants for eligible rental housing

848

constructed, rehabilitated, or otherwise assisted from the local

849

housing assistance trust fund must be subject to recapture

850

requirements as provided by the county or eligible municipality

851

in its local housing assistance plan unless reserved for eligible

852

persons for 15 years or the term of the assistance, whichever

853

period is longer. Eligible sponsors that offer rental housing for

854

sale before 15 years or that have remaining mortgages funded

855

under this program must give a first right of refusal to eligible

856

nonprofit organizations for purchase at the current market value

857

for continued occupancy by eligible persons.

858

     (h)(g) Loans or grants for eligible owner-occupied housing

859

constructed, rehabilitated, or otherwise assisted from proceeds

860

provided from the local housing assistance trust fund shall be

861

subject to recapture requirements as provided by the county or

862

eligible municipality in its local housing assistance plan.

863

     (i)(h) The total amount of monthly mortgage payments or the

864

amount of monthly rent charged by the eligible sponsor or her or

865

his designee must be made affordable.

866

     (j)(i) The maximum sales price or value per unit and the

867

maximum award per unit for eligible housing benefiting from

868

awards made pursuant to this section must be established in the

869

local housing assistance plan.

870

     (k)(j) The benefit of assistance provided through the State

871

Housing Initiatives Partnership Program must accrue to eligible

872

persons occupying eligible housing. This provision shall not be

873

construed to prohibit use of the local housing distribution funds

874

for a mixed income rental development.

875

     (l)(k) Funds from the local housing distribution not used

876

to meet the criteria established in paragraph (a) or paragraph

877

(b) or not used for the administration of a local housing

878

assistance plan must be used for housing production and finance

879

activities, including, but not limited to, financing

880

preconstruction activities or the purchase of existing units,

881

providing rental housing, and providing home ownership training

882

to prospective home buyers and owners of homes assisted through

883

the local housing assistance plan.

884

     1. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (a) and

885

(b), program income as defined in s. 420.9071(26) s. 420.9071(24)

886

may also be used to fund activities described in this paragraph.

887

     2. Where preconstruction due diligence activities conducted

888

as part of a preservation strategy show that preservation of the

889

units is not feasible and will not result in the production of an

890

eligible unit, such costs shall be deemed a program expense

891

rather than an administrative expense if such program expenses do

892

not exceed 3 percent of the annual local housing distribution.

893

     (m) Each county and each eligible municipality may award

894

funds as a grant for construction, rehabilitation, or repair as

895

part of disaster recovery or emergency repairs or to remedy

896

accessibility or health and safety deficiencies. Any other grants

897

must be approved as part of the local housing assistance plan.

898

899

If both an award under the local housing assistance plan and

900

federal low-income housing tax credits are used to assist a

901

project and there is a conflict between the criteria prescribed

902

in this subsection and the requirements of s. 42 of the Internal

903

Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, the county or eligible

904

municipality may resolve the conflict by giving precedence to the

905

requirements of s. 42 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as

906

amended, in lieu of following the criteria prescribed in this

907

subsection with the exception of paragraphs (a) and (e) (d) of

908

this subsection.

909

     (7)  The moneys deposited in the local housing assistance

910

trust fund shall be used to administer and implement the local

911

housing assistance plan. The cost of administering the plan may

912

not exceed 5 percent of the local housing distribution moneys and

913

program income deposited into the trust fund. A county or an

914

eligible municipality may not exceed the 5-percent limitation on

915

administrative costs, unless its governing body finds, by

916

resolution, that 5 percent of the local housing distribution plus

917

5 percent of program income is insufficient to adequately pay the

918

necessary costs of administering the local housing assistance

919

plan. The cost of administering the program may not exceed 10

920

percent of the local housing distribution plus 10 5 percent of

921

program income deposited into the trust fund, except that small

922

counties, as defined in s. 120.52(17), and eligible

923

municipalities receiving a local housing distribution of up to

924

$350,000 may use up to 10 percent of program income for

925

administrative costs.

926

     (8)  Pursuant to s. 420.531, the corporation shall provide

927

training and technical assistance to local governments regarding

928

the creation of partnerships, the design of local housing

929

assistance strategies, the implementation of local housing

930

incentive strategies, and the provision of support services.

931

     (10)  Each county or eligible municipality shall submit to

932

the corporation by September 15 of each year a report of its

933

affordable housing programs and accomplishments through June 30

934

immediately preceding submittal of the report. The report shall

935

be certified as accurate and complete by the local government's

936

chief elected official or his or her designee. Transmittal of the

937

annual report by a county's or eligible municipality's chief

938

elected official, or his or her designee, certifies that the

939

local housing incentive strategies, or, if applicable, the local

940

housing incentive plan, have been implemented or are in the

941

process of being implemented pursuant to the adopted schedule for

942

implementation. The report must include, but is not limited to:

943

     (a)  The number of households served by income category,

944

age, family size, and race, and data regarding any special needs

945

populations such as farmworkers, homeless persons, persons with

946

disabilities, and the elderly. Counties shall report this

947

information separately for households served in the

948

unincorporated area and each municipality within the county.

949

     (h)  Such other data or affordable housing accomplishments

950

considered significant by the reporting county or eligible

951

municipality or by the corporation.

952

     (13)

953

     (b)  If, as a result of its review of the annual report, the

954

corporation determines that a county or eligible municipality has

955

failed to implement a local housing incentive strategy, or, if

956

applicable, a local housing incentive plan, it shall send a

957

notice of termination of the local government's share of the

958

local housing distribution by certified mail to the affected

959

county or eligible municipality.

960

     1.  The notice must specify a date of termination of the

961

funding if the affected county or eligible municipality does not

962

implement the plan or strategy and provide for a local response.

963

A county or eligible municipality shall respond to the

964

corporation within 30 days after receipt of the notice of

965

termination.

966

     2.  The corporation shall consider the local response that

967

extenuating circumstances precluded implementation and grant an

968

extension to the timeframe for implementation. Such an extension

969

shall be made in the form of an extension agreement that provides

970

a timeframe for implementation. The chief elected official of a

971

county or eligible municipality or his or her designee shall have

972

the authority to enter into the agreement on behalf of the local

973

government.

974

     3.  If the county or the eligible municipality has not

975

implemented the incentive strategy or entered into an extension

976

agreement by the termination date specified in the notice, the

977

local housing distribution share terminates, and any uncommitted

978

local housing distribution funds held by the affected county or

979

eligible municipality in its local housing assistance trust fund

980

shall be transferred to the Local Government Housing Trust Fund

981

to the credit of the corporation to administer pursuant to s.

982

420.9072 s. 420.9078.

983

     4.a.  If the affected local government fails to meet the

984

timeframes specified in the agreement, the corporation shall

985

terminate funds. The corporation shall send a notice of

986

termination of the local government's share of the local housing

987

distribution by certified mail to the affected local government.

988

The notice shall specify the termination date, and any

989

uncommitted funds held by the affected local government shall be

990

transferred to the Local Government Housing Trust Fund to the

991

credit of the corporation to administer pursuant to s. 420.9072

992

s. 420.9078.

993

     b.  If the corporation terminates funds to a county, but an

994

eligible municipality receiving a local housing distribution

995

pursuant to an interlocal agreement maintains compliance with

996

program requirements, the corporation shall thereafter distribute

997

directly to the participating eligible municipality its share

998

calculated in the manner provided in s. 420.9072.

999

     c.  Any county or eligible municipality whose local

1000

distribution share has been terminated may subsequently elect to

1001

receive directly its local distribution share by adopting the

1002

ordinance, resolution, and local housing assistance plan in the

1003

manner and according to the procedures provided in ss. 420.907-

1004

420.9079.

1005

     (14) If the corporation determines that a county or

1006

eligible municipality has expended program funds for an

1007

ineligible activity, the corporation shall require such funds to

1008

be repaid to the Local Housing Assistance Trust Fund. Such

1009

repayment may not be made with funds from the State Housing

1010

Initiatives Partnership Program.

1011

     Section 12.  Subsections (2), (5), and (6) and paragraph (a)

1012

of subsection (7) of section 420.9076, Florida Statutes, are

1013

amended to read:

1014

     420.9076  Adoption of affordable housing incentive

1015

strategies; committees.--

1016

     (2)  The governing board of a county or municipality shall

1017

appoint the members of the affordable housing advisory committee

1018

by resolution. Pursuant to the terms of any interlocal agreement,

1019

a county and municipality may create and jointly appoint an

1020

advisory committee to prepare a joint plan. The ordinance adopted

1021

pursuant to s. 420.9072 which creates the advisory committee or

1022

the resolution appointing the advisory committee members must

1023

provide for 11 committee members and their terms. The committee

1024

must include:

1025

     (a)  One citizen who is actively engaged in the residential

1026

home building industry in connection with affordable housing.

1027

     (b)  One citizen who is actively engaged in the banking or

1028

mortgage banking industry in connection with affordable housing.

1029

     (c)  One citizen who is a representative of those areas of

1030

labor actively engaged in home building in connection with

1031

affordable housing.

1032

     (d)  One citizen who is actively engaged as an advocate for

1033

low-income persons in connection with affordable housing.

1034

     (e)  One citizen who is actively engaged as a for-profit

1035

provider of affordable housing.

1036

     (f)  One citizen who is actively engaged as a not-for-profit

1037

provider of affordable housing.

1038

     (g)  One citizen who is actively engaged as a real estate

1039

professional in connection with affordable housing.

1040

     (h)  One citizen who actively serves on the local planning

1041

agency pursuant to s. 163.3174. If the local planning agency is

1042

comprised of the county or municipality governing body, the

1043

governing body may appoint a designee who is knowledgeable in the

1044

local planning process.

1045

     (i)  One citizen who resides within the jurisdiction of the

1046

local governing body making the appointments.

1047

     (j)  One citizen who represents employers within the

1048

jurisdiction.

1049

     (k)  One citizen who represents essential services

1050

personnel, as defined in the local housing assistance plan.

1051

1052

If a county or eligible municipality whether due to its small

1053

size, the presence of a conflict of interest by prospective

1054

appointees, or other reasonable factor, is unable to appoint a

1055

citizen actively engaged in these activities in connection with

1056

affordable housing, a citizen engaged in the activity without

1057

regard to affordable housing may be appointed. Local governments

1058

that receive the minimum allocation under the State Housing

1059

Initiatives Partnership Program may elect to appoint an

1060

affordable housing advisory committee with fewer than 11

1061

representatives if they are unable to find representatives who

1062

meet the criteria of paragraphs (a)-(k).

1063

     (5)  The approval by the advisory committee of its local

1064

housing incentive strategies recommendations and its review of

1065

local government implementation of previously recommended

1066

strategies must be made by affirmative vote of a majority of the

1067

membership of the advisory committee taken at a public hearing.

1068

Notice of the time, date, and place of the public hearing of the

1069

advisory committee to adopt its evaluation and final local

1070

housing incentive strategies recommendations must be published in

1071

a newspaper of general paid circulation in the county. The notice

1072

must contain a short and concise summary of the evaluation and

1073

local housing incentives strategies recommendations to be

1074

considered by the advisory committee. The notice must state the

1075

public place where a copy of the evaluation and tentative

1076

advisory committee recommendations can be obtained by interested

1077

persons. The final report, evaluation, and recommendations shall

1078

be submitted to the corporation.

1079

     (6)  Within 90 days after the date of receipt of the

1080

evaluation and local housing incentive strategies recommendations

1081

from the advisory committee, the governing body of the appointing

1082

local government shall adopt an amendment to its local housing

1083

assistance plan to incorporate the local housing incentive

1084

strategies it will implement within its jurisdiction. The

1085

amendment must include, at a minimum, the local housing incentive

1086

strategies required under s. 420.9071(17) s. 420.9071(16). The

1087

local government must consider the strategies specified in

1088

paragraphs (4)(a)-(k) as recommended by the advisory committee.

1089

     (7)  The governing board of the county or the eligible

1090

municipality shall notify the corporation by certified mail of

1091

its adoption of an amendment of its local housing assistance plan

1092

to incorporate local housing incentive strategies. The notice

1093

must include a copy of the approved amended plan.

1094

     (a)  If the corporation fails to receive timely the approved

1095

amended local housing assistance plan to incorporate local

1096

housing incentive strategies, a notice of termination of its

1097

share of the local housing distribution shall be sent by

1098

certified mail by the corporation to the affected county or

1099

eligible municipality. The notice of termination must specify a

1100

date of termination of the funding if the affected county or

1101

eligible municipality has not adopted an amended local housing

1102

assistance plan to incorporate local housing incentive

1103

strategies. If the county or the eligible municipality has not

1104

adopted an amended local housing assistance plan to incorporate

1105

local housing incentive strategies by the termination date

1106

specified in the notice of termination, the local distribution

1107

share terminates; and any uncommitted local distribution funds

1108

held by the affected county or eligible municipality in its local

1109

housing assistance trust fund shall be transferred to the Local

1110

Government Housing Trust Fund to the credit of the corporation to

1111

administer the local government housing program pursuant to s.

1112

420.9072 s. 420.9078.

1113

     Section 13.  Section 420.9079, Florida Statutes, is amended

1114

to read:

1115

     420.9079  Local Government Housing Trust Fund.--

1116

     (1)  There is created in the State Treasury the Local

1117

Government Housing Trust Fund, which shall be administered by the

1118

corporation on behalf of the department according to the

1119

provisions of ss. 420.907-420.9076 420.907-420.9078 and this

1120

section. There shall be deposited into the fund a portion of the

1121

documentary stamp tax revenues as provided in s. 201.15, moneys

1122

received from any other source for the purposes of ss. 420.907-

1123

420.9076 420.907-420.9078 and this section, and all proceeds

1124

derived from the investment of such moneys. Moneys in the fund

1125

that are not currently needed for the purposes of the programs

1126

administered pursuant to ss. 420.907-420.9076 420.907-420.9078

1127

and this section shall be deposited to the credit of the fund and

1128

may be invested as provided by law. The interest received on any

1129

such investment shall be credited to the fund.

1130

     (2)  The corporation shall administer the fund exclusively

1131

for the purpose of implementing the programs described in ss.

1132

420.907-420.9076 420.907-420.9078 and this section. With the

1133

exception of monitoring the activities of counties and eligible

1134

municipalities to determine local compliance with program

1135

requirements, the corporation shall not receive appropriations

1136

from the fund for administrative or personnel costs. For the

1137

purpose of implementing the compliance monitoring provisions of

1138

s. 420.9075(9), the corporation may request a maximum of one-

1139

quarter of 1 percent of the annual appropriation per state fiscal

1140

year. When such funding is appropriated, the corporation shall

1141

deduct the amount appropriated prior to calculating the local

1142

housing distribution pursuant to ss. 420.9072 and 420.9073.

1143

     Section 14.  Subsection (6) of section 421.08, Florida

1144

Statutes, is amended to read:

1145

     421.08  Powers of authority.--An authority shall constitute

1146

a public body corporate and politic, exercising the public and

1147

essential governmental functions set forth in this chapter, and

1148

having all the powers necessary or convenient to carry out and

1149

effectuate the purpose and provisions of this chapter, including

1150

the following powers in addition to others herein granted:

1151

     (6)  Within its area of operation: to investigate into

1152

living, dwelling, and housing conditions and into the means and

1153

methods of improving such conditions; to determine where slum

1154

areas exist or where there is a shortage of decent, safe, and

1155

sanitary dwelling accommodations for persons of low income; to

1156

make studies and recommendations relating to the problem of

1157

clearing, replanning, and reconstruction of slum areas and the

1158

problem of providing dwelling accommodations for persons of low

1159

income; to administer fair housing ordinances and other

1160

ordinances as adopted by cities, counties, or other authorities

1161

who wish to contract for administrative services and to cooperate

1162

with the city, the county, the state or any political subdivision

1163

thereof in action taken in connection with such problems; and to

1164

engage in research, studies, and experimentation on the subject

1165

of housing. However, the housing authority may not take action to

1166

prohibit access to a housing project by a state or local elected

1167

official or a candidate for state or local government office.

1168

     Section 15.  Subsection (12) of section 1001.43, Florida

1169

Statutes, is amended to read:

1170

     1001.43  Supplemental powers and duties of district school

1171

board.--The district school board may exercise the following

1172

supplemental powers and duties as authorized by this code or

1173

State Board of Education rule.

1174

     (12)  AFFORDABLE HOUSING.--A district school board may use

1175

portions of school sites purchased within the guidelines of the

1176

State Requirements for Educational Facilities, land deemed not

1177

usable for educational purposes because of location or other

1178

factors, or land declared as surplus by the board to provide

1179

sites for affordable housing for teachers and other district

1180

personnel and, in areas of critical state concern, for other

1181

essential services personnel as defined by local affordable

1182

housing eligibility requirements, independently or in conjunction

1183

with other agencies as described in subsection (5).

1184

     Section 16.  Subsection (4) of section 159.807, Florida

1185

Statutes, is amended to read:

1186

     159.807  State allocation pool.--

1187

     (4)(a)  The state allocation pool shall also be used to

1188

provide written confirmations for private activity bonds that are

1189

to be issued by state agencies, which bonds, notwithstanding any

1190

other provisions of this part, shall receive priority in the use

1191

of the pool available at the time the notice of intent to issue

1192

such bonds is filed with the division.

1193

     (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a), on or

1194

before November 15 of each year, the Florida Housing Finance

1195

Corporation's access to the state allocation pool is limited to

1196

the amount of the corporation's initial allocation under s.

1197

159.804. Thereafter, the corporation may not receive more than 80

1198

percent of the amount in the state allocation pool on November 16

1199

of each year, and may not receive more than 80 percent of any

1200

additional amounts that become available each year. This

1201

subsection does not apply to the Florida Housing Finance

1202

Corporation:

1203

     1. Until its allocation pursuant to s. 159.804(3) has been

1204

exhausted, is unavailable, or is inadequate to provide an

1205

allocation pursuant to s. 159.804(3) and any carryforwards of

1206

volume limitation from prior years for the same carryforward

1207

purpose, as that term is defined in s. 146 of the Code, as the

1208

bonds it intends to issue have been completely utilized or have

1209

expired.

1210

     2. Prior to July 1 of any year, when housing bonds for

1211

which the Florida Housing Finance Corporation has made an

1212

assignment of its allocation permitted by s. 159.804(3)(c) have

1213

not been issued.

1214

     Section 17. Section 420.9078, Florida Statutes, is repealed.

1215

     Section 18.  Paragraph (p) of subsection (5) of section

1216

212.08, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

1217

     212.08  Sales, rental, use, consumption, distribution, and

1218

storage tax; specified exemptions.--The sale at retail, the

1219

rental, the use, the consumption, the distribution, and the

1220

storage to be used or consumed in this state of the following are

1221

hereby specifically exempt from the tax imposed by this chapter.

1222

     (5)  EXEMPTIONS; ACCOUNT OF USE.--

1223

     (p)  Community contribution tax credit for donations.--

1224

     1.  Authorization.--Persons who are registered with the

1225

department under s. 212.18 to collect or remit sales or use tax

1226

and who make donations to eligible sponsors are eligible for tax

1227

credits against their state sales and use tax liabilities as

1228

provided in this paragraph:

1229

     a.  The credit shall be computed as 50 percent of the

1230

person's approved annual community contribution.

1231

     b.  The credit shall be granted as a refund against state

1232

sales and use taxes reported on returns and remitted in the 12

1233

months preceding the date of application to the department for

1234

the credit as required in sub-subparagraph 3.c. If the annual

1235

credit is not fully used through such refund because of

1236

insufficient tax payments during the applicable 12-month period,

1237

the unused amount may be included in an application for a refund

1238

made pursuant to sub-subparagraph 3.c. in subsequent years

1239

against the total tax payments made for such year. Carryover

1240

credits may be applied for a 3-year period without regard to any

1241

time limitation that would otherwise apply under s. 215.26.

1242

     c.  A person may not receive more than $200,000 in annual

1243

tax credits for all approved community contributions made in any

1244

one year.

1245

     d.  All proposals for the granting of the tax credit require

1246

the prior approval of the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic

1247

Development.

1248

     e.  The total amount of tax credits which may be granted for

1249

all programs approved under this paragraph, s. 220.183, and s.

1250

624.5105 is $10.5 million annually for projects that provide

1251

homeownership opportunities for low-income or very-low-income

1252

households as defined in s. 420.9071(20) and (30) s. 420.9071(19)

1253

and (28) and $3.5 million annually for all other projects.

1254

     f.  A person who is eligible to receive the credit provided

1255

for in this paragraph, s. 220.183, or s. 624.5105 may receive the

1256

credit only under the one section of the person's choice.

1257

     2.  Eligibility requirements.--

1258

     a.  A community contribution by a person must be in the

1259

following form:

1260

     (I)  Cash or other liquid assets;

1261

     (II)  Real property;

1262

     (III)  Goods or inventory; or

1263

     (IV)  Other physical resources as identified by the Office

1264

of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development.

1265

     b.  All community contributions must be reserved exclusively

1266

for use in a project. As used in this sub-subparagraph, the term

1267

"project" means any activity undertaken by an eligible sponsor

1268

which is designed to construct, improve, or substantially

1269

rehabilitate housing that is affordable to low-income or very-

1270

low-income households as defined in s. 420.9071(20) and (30) s.

1271

420.9071(19) and (28); designed to provide commercial,

1272

industrial, or public resources and facilities; or designed to

1273

improve entrepreneurial and job-development opportunities for

1274

low-income persons. A project may be the investment necessary to

1275

increase access to high-speed broadband capability in rural

1276

communities with enterprise zones, including projects that result

1277

in improvements to communications assets that are owned by a

1278

business. A project may include the provision of museum

1279

educational programs and materials that are directly related to

1280

any project approved between January 1, 1996, and December 31,

1281

1999, and located in an enterprise zone designated pursuant to s.

1282

290.0065. This paragraph does not preclude projects that propose

1283

to construct or rehabilitate housing for low-income or very-low-

1284

income households on scattered sites. With respect to housing,

1285

contributions may be used to pay the following eligible low-

1286

income and very-low-income housing-related activities:

1287

     (I)  Project development impact and management fees for low-

1288

income or very-low-income housing projects;

1289

     (II)  Down payment and closing costs for eligible persons,

1290

as defined in s. 420.9071(20) and (30) s. 420.9071(19) and (28);

1291

     (III)  Administrative costs, including housing counseling

1292

and marketing fees, not to exceed 10 percent of the community

1293

contribution, directly related to low-income or very-low-income

1294

projects; and

1295

     (IV)  Removal of liens recorded against residential property

1296

by municipal, county, or special district local governments when

1297

satisfaction of the lien is a necessary precedent to the transfer

1298

of the property to an eligible person, as defined in s.

1299

420.9071(20) and (30) s. 420.9071(19) and (28), for the purpose

1300

of promoting home ownership. Contributions for lien removal must

1301

be received from a nonrelated third party.

1302

     c.  The project must be undertaken by an "eligible sponsor,"

1303

which includes:

1304

     (I)  A community action program;

1305

     (II)  A nonprofit community-based development organization

1306

whose mission is the provision of housing for low-income or very-

1307

low-income households or increasing entrepreneurial and job-

1308

development opportunities for low-income persons;

1309

     (III)  A neighborhood housing services corporation;

1310

     (IV)  A local housing authority created under chapter 421;

1311

     (V)  A community redevelopment agency created under s.

1312

163.356;

1313

     (VI)  The Florida Industrial Development Corporation;

1314

     (VII)  A historic preservation district agency or

1315

organization;

1316

     (VIII)  A regional workforce board;

1317

     (IX)  A direct-support organization as provided in s.

1318

1009.983;

1319

     (X)  An enterprise zone development agency created under s.

1320

290.0056;

1321

     (XI)  A community-based organization incorporated under

1322

chapter 617 which is recognized as educational, charitable, or

1323

scientific pursuant to s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code

1324

and whose bylaws and articles of incorporation include affordable

1325

housing, economic development, or community development as the

1326

primary mission of the corporation;

1327

     (XII)  Units of local government;

1328

     (XIII)  Units of state government; or

1329

     (XIV)  Any other agency that the Office of Tourism, Trade,

1330

and Economic Development designates by rule.

1331

1332

In no event may A contributing person may not have a financial

1333

interest in the eligible sponsor.

1334

     d.  The project must be located in an area designated an

1335

enterprise zone or a Front Porch Florida Community pursuant to s.

1336

20.18(6), unless the project increases access to high-speed

1337

broadband capability for rural communities with enterprise zones

1338

but is physically located outside the designated rural zone

1339

boundaries. Any project designed to construct or rehabilitate

1340

housing for low-income or very-low-income households as defined

1341

in s. 420.9071(20) and (30) s. 420.9071(19) and (28) is exempt

1342

from the area requirement of this sub-subparagraph.

1343

     e.(I)  If, during the first 10 business days of the state

1344

fiscal year, eligible tax credit applications for projects that

1345

provide homeownership opportunities for low-income or very-low-

1346

income households as defined in s. 420.9071(20) and (30) s.

1347

420.9071(19) and (28) are received for less than the annual tax

1348

credits available for those projects, the Office of Tourism,

1349

Trade, and Economic Development shall grant tax credits for those

1350

applications and shall grant remaining tax credits on a first-

1351

come, first-served basis for any subsequent eligible applications

1352

received before the end of the state fiscal year. If, during the

1353

first 10 business days of the state fiscal year, eligible tax

1354

credit applications for projects that provide homeownership

1355

opportunities for low-income or very-low-income households as

1356

defined in s. 420.9071(20) and (30) s. 420.9071(19) and (28) are

1357

received for more than the annual tax credits available for those

1358

projects, the office shall grant the tax credits for those

1359

applications as follows:

1360

     (A)  If tax credit applications submitted for approved

1361

projects of an eligible sponsor do not exceed $200,000 in total,

1362

the credits shall be granted in full if the tax credit

1363

applications are approved.

1364

     (B)  If tax credit applications submitted for approved

1365

projects of an eligible sponsor exceed $200,000 in total, the

1366

amount of tax credits granted pursuant to sub-sub-sub-

1367

subparagraph (A) shall be subtracted from the amount of available

1368

tax credits, and the remaining credits shall be granted to each

1369

approved tax credit application on a pro rata basis.

1370

     (II)  If, during the first 10 business days of the state

1371

fiscal year, eligible tax credit applications for projects other

1372

than those that provide homeownership opportunities for low-

1373

income or very-low-income households as defined in s.

1374

420.9071(20) and (30) s. 420.9071(19) and (28) are received for

1375

less than the annual tax credits available for those projects,

1376

the office shall grant tax credits for those applications and

1377

shall grant remaining tax credits on a first-come, first-served

1378

basis for any subsequent eligible applications received before

1379

the end of the state fiscal year. If, during the first 10

1380

business days of the state fiscal year, eligible tax credit

1381

applications for projects other than those that provide

1382

homeownership opportunities for low-income or very-low-income

1383

households as defined in s. 420.9071(20) and (30) s. 420.9071(19)

1384

and (28) are received for more than the annual tax credits

1385

available for those projects, the office shall grant the tax

1386

credits for those applications on a pro rata basis.

1387

     3.  Application requirements.--

1388

     a.  Any eligible sponsor seeking to participate in this

1389

program must submit a proposal to the Office of Tourism, Trade,

1390

and Economic Development which sets forth the name of the

1391

sponsor, a description of the project, and the area in which the

1392

project is located, together with such supporting information as

1393

is prescribed by rule. The proposal must also contain a

1394

resolution from the local governmental unit in which the project

1395

is located certifying that the project is consistent with local

1396

plans and regulations.

1397

     b.  Any person seeking to participate in this program must

1398

submit an application for tax credit to the office which sets

1399

forth the name of the sponsor, a description of the project, and

1400

the type, value, and purpose of the contribution. The sponsor

1401

shall verify the terms of the application and indicate its

1402

receipt of the contribution, which verification must be in

1403

writing and accompany the application for tax credit. The person

1404

must submit a separate tax credit application to the office for

1405

each individual contribution that it makes to each individual

1406

project.

1407

     c.  Any person who has received notification from the office

1408

that a tax credit has been approved must apply to the department

1409

to receive the refund. Application must be made on the form

1410

prescribed for claiming refunds of sales and use taxes and be

1411

accompanied by a copy of the notification. A person may submit

1412

only one application for refund to the department within any 12-

1413

month period.

1414

     4.  Administration.--

1415

     a.  The Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development

1416

may adopt rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 necessary

1417

to administer this paragraph, including rules for the approval or

1418

disapproval of proposals by a person.

1419

     b.  The decision of the office must be in writing, and, if

1420

approved, the notification shall state the maximum credit

1421

allowable to the person. Upon approval, the office shall transmit

1422

a copy of the decision to the Department of Revenue.

1423

     c.  The office shall periodically monitor all projects in a

1424

manner consistent with available resources to ensure that

1425

resources are used in accordance with this paragraph; however,

1426

each project must be reviewed at least once every 2 years.

1427

     d.  The office shall, in consultation with the Department of

1428

Community Affairs and the statewide and regional housing and

1429

financial intermediaries, market the availability of the

1430

community contribution tax credit program to community-based

1431

organizations.

1432

     5.  Expiration.--This paragraph expires June 30, 2015;

1433

however, any accrued credit carryover that is unused on that date

1434

may be used until the expiration of the 3-year carryover period

1435

for such credit.

1436

     Section 19.  Paragraph (t) of subsection (1) of section

1437

220.03, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

1438

     220.03  Definitions.--

1439

     (1)  SPECIFIC TERMS.--When used in this code, and when not

1440

otherwise distinctly expressed or manifestly incompatible with

1441

the intent thereof, the following terms shall have the following

1442

meanings:

1443

     (t)  "Project" means any activity undertaken by an eligible

1444

sponsor, as defined in s. 220.183(2)(c), which is designed to

1445

construct, improve, or substantially rehabilitate housing that is

1446

affordable to low-income or very-low-income households as defined

1447

in s. 420.9071(20) and (30) s. 420.9071(19) and (28); designed to

1448

provide commercial, industrial, or public resources and

1449

facilities; or designed to improve entrepreneurial and job-

1450

development opportunities for low-income persons. A project may

1451

be the investment necessary to increase access to high-speed

1452

broadband capability in rural communities with enterprise zones,

1453

including projects that result in improvements to communications

1454

assets that are owned by a business. A project may include the

1455

provision of museum educational programs and materials that are

1456

directly related to any project approved between January 1, 1996,

1457

and December 31, 1999, and located in an enterprise zone

1458

designated pursuant to s. 290.0065. This paragraph does not

1459

preclude projects that propose to construct or rehabilitate low-

1460

income or very-low-income housing on scattered sites. With

1461

respect to housing, contributions may be used to pay the

1462

following eligible project-related activities:

1463

     1.  Project development, impact, and management fees for

1464

low-income or very-low-income housing projects;

1465

     2.  Down payment and closing costs for eligible persons, as

1466

defined in s. 420.9071(20) and (30) s. 420.9071(19) and (28);

1467

     3.  Administrative costs, including housing counseling and

1468

marketing fees, not to exceed 10 percent of the community

1469

contribution, directly related to low-income or very-low-income

1470

projects; and

1471

     4.  Removal of liens recorded against residential property

1472

by municipal, county, or special-district local governments when

1473

satisfaction of the lien is a necessary precedent to the transfer

1474

of the property to an eligible person, as defined in s.

1475

420.9071(20) and (30) s. 420.9071(19) and (28), for the purpose

1476

of promoting home ownership. Contributions for lien removal must

1477

be received from a nonrelated third party.

1478

1479

The provisions of this paragraph shall expire and be void on June

1480

30, 2015.

1481

     Section 20.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) and paragraphs

1482

(b) and (d) of subsection (2) of section 220.183, Florida

1483

Statutes, are amended to read:

1484

     220.183  Community contribution tax credit.--

1485

     (1)  AUTHORIZATION TO GRANT COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTION TAX

1486

CREDITS; LIMITATIONS ON INDIVIDUAL CREDITS AND PROGRAM

1487

SPENDING.--

1488

     (c)  The total amount of tax credit which may be granted for

1489

all programs approved under this section, s. 212.08(5)(p), and s.

1490

624.5105 is $10.5 million annually for projects that provide

1491

homeownership opportunities for low-income or very-low-income

1492

households as defined in s. 420.9071(20) and (30) s. 420.9071(19)

1493

and (28) and $3.5 million annually for all other projects.

1494

     (2)  ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.--

1495

     (b)1.  All community contributions must be reserved

1496

exclusively for use in projects as defined in s. 220.03(1)(t).

1497

     2.  If, during the first 10 business days of the state

1498

fiscal year, eligible tax credit applications for projects that

1499

provide homeownership opportunities for low-income or very-low-

1500

income households as defined in s. 420.9071(20) and (30) s.

1501

420.9071(19) and (28) are received for less than the annual tax

1502

credits available for those projects, the Office of Tourism,

1503

Trade, and Economic Development shall grant tax credits for those

1504

applications and shall grant remaining tax credits on a first-

1505

come, first-served basis for any subsequent eligible applications

1506

received before the end of the state fiscal year. If, during the

1507

first 10 business days of the state fiscal year, eligible tax

1508

credit applications for projects that provide homeownership

1509

opportunities for low-income or very-low-income households as

1510

defined in s. 420.9071(20) and (30) s. 420.9071(19) and (28) are

1511

received for more than the annual tax credits available for those

1512

projects, the office shall grant the tax credits for those

1513

applications as follows:

1514

     a.  If tax credit applications submitted for approved

1515

projects of an eligible sponsor do not exceed $200,000 in total,

1516

the credit shall be granted in full if the tax credit

1517

applications are approved.

1518

     b.  If tax credit applications submitted for approved

1519

projects of an eligible sponsor exceed $200,000 in total, the

1520

amount of tax credits granted under sub-subparagraph a. shall be

1521

subtracted from the amount of available tax credits, and the

1522

remaining credits shall be granted to each approved tax credit

1523

application on a pro rata basis.

1524

     3.  If, during the first 10 business days of the state

1525

fiscal year, eligible tax credit applications for projects other

1526

than those that provide homeownership opportunities for low-

1527

income or very-low-income households as defined in s.

1528

420.9071(20) and (30) s. 420.9071(19) and (28) are received for

1529

less than the annual tax credits available for those projects,

1530

the office shall grant tax credits for those applications and

1531

shall grant remaining tax credits on a first-come, first-served

1532

basis for any subsequent eligible applications received before

1533

the end of the state fiscal year. If, during the first 10

1534

business days of the state fiscal year, eligible tax credit

1535

applications for projects other than those that provide

1536

homeownership opportunities for low-income or very-low-income

1537

households as defined in s. 420.9071(20) and (30) s. 420.9071(19)

1538

and (28) are received for more than the annual tax credits

1539

available for those projects, the office shall grant the tax

1540

credits for those applications on a pro rata basis.

1541

     (d)  The project shall be located in an area designated as

1542

an enterprise zone or a Front Porch Florida Community pursuant to

1543

s. 20.18(6). Any project designed to construct or rehabilitate

1544

housing for low-income or very-low-income households as defined

1545

in s. 420.9071(20) and (30) s. 420.9071(19) and (28) is exempt

1546

from the area requirement of this paragraph. This section does

1547

not preclude projects that propose to construct or rehabilitate

1548

housing for low-income or very-low-income households on scattered

1549

sites. Any project designed to provide increased access to high-

1550

speed broadband capabilities which includes coverage of a rural

1551

enterprise zone may locate the project's infrastructure in any

1552

area of a rural county.

1553

     Section 21.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) and paragraphs

1554

(d) and (e) of subsection (2) of section 624.5105, Florida

1555

Statutes, are amended to read:

1556

     624.5105  Community contribution tax credit; authorization;

1557

limitations; eligibility and application requirements;

1558

administration; definitions; expiration.--

1559

     (1)  AUTHORIZATION TO GRANT TAX CREDITS; LIMITATIONS.--

1560

     (c)  The total amount of tax credit which may be granted for

1561

all programs approved under this section and ss. 212.08(5)(p) and

1562

220.183 is $10.5 million annually for projects that provide

1563

homeownership opportunities for low-income or very-low-income

1564

households as defined in s. 420.9071(20) and (30) s. 420.9071(19)

1565

and (28) and $3.5 million annually for all other projects.

1566

     (2)  ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.--

1567

     (d)  The project shall be located in an area designated as

1568

an enterprise zone or a Front Porch Community pursuant to s.

1569

20.18(6). Any project designed to construct or rehabilitate

1570

housing for low-income or very-low-income households as defined

1571

in s. 420.9071(20) and (30) s. 420.9071(19) and (28) is exempt

1572

from the area requirement of this paragraph.

1573

     (e)1.  If, during the first 10 business days of the state

1574

fiscal year, eligible tax credit applications for projects that

1575

provide homeownership opportunities for low-income or very-low-

1576

income households as defined in s. 420.9071(20) and (30) s.

1577

420.9071(19) and (28) are received for less than the annual tax

1578

credits available for those projects, the Office of Tourism,

1579

Trade, and Economic Development shall grant tax credits for those

1580

applications and shall grant remaining tax credits on a first-

1581

come, first-served basis for any subsequent eligible applications

1582

received before the end of the state fiscal year. If, during the

1583

first 10 business days of the state fiscal year, eligible tax

1584

credit applications for projects that provide homeownership

1585

opportunities for low-income or very-low-income households as

1586

defined in s. 420.9071(20) and (30) s. 420.9071(19) and (28) are

1587

received for more than the annual tax credits available for those

1588

projects, the office shall grant the tax credits for those

1589

applications as follows:

1590

     a.  If tax credit applications submitted for approved

1591

projects of an eligible sponsor do not exceed $200,000 in total,

1592

the credits shall be granted in full if the tax credit

1593

applications are approved.

1594

     b.  If tax credit applications submitted for approved

1595

projects of an eligible sponsor exceed $200,000 in total, the

1596

amount of tax credits granted under sub-subparagraph a. shall be

1597

subtracted from the amount of available tax credits, and the

1598

remaining credits shall be granted to each approved tax credit

1599

application on a pro rata basis.

1600

     2.  If, during the first 10 business days of the state

1601

fiscal year, eligible tax credit applications for projects other

1602

than those that provide homeownership opportunities for low-

1603

income or very-low-income households as defined in s.

1604

420.9071(20) and (30) s. 420.9071(19) and (28) are received for

1605

less than the annual tax credits available for those projects,

1606

the office shall grant tax credits for those applications and

1607

shall grant remaining tax credits on a first-come, first-served

1608

basis for any subsequent eligible applications received before

1609

the end of the state fiscal year. If, during the first 10

1610

business days of the state fiscal year, eligible tax credit

1611

applications for projects other than those that provide

1612

homeownership opportunities for low-income or very-low-income

1613

households as defined in s. 420.9071(20) and (30) s. 420.9071(19)

1614

and (28) are received for more than the annual tax credits

1615

available for those projects, the office shall grant the tax

1616

credits for those applications on a pro rata basis.

1617

     Section 22.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2008.

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