1 | A bill to be entitled |
2 | An act implementing the 2008-2009 General Appropriations |
3 | Act; providing legislative intent; amending s. 1001.451, |
4 | F.S.; revising the incentive grant amounts for regional |
5 | consortium service organizations; amending s. 1012.225, |
6 | F.S.; revising the dates when Merit Award Program plans |
7 | must be submitted; amending s. 394.908, F.S.; requiring |
8 | that funds appropriated for forensic mental health |
9 | treatment services be allocated to the areas of the state |
10 | having the greatest demand for services and treatment |
11 | capacity; providing allocation requirements for specified |
12 | funds appropriated for mental health services; providing |
13 | for a health care collaborative action network and |
14 | discount health care pilot program in Miami-Dade County; |
15 | authorizing the Executive Office of the Governor to |
16 | approve the increase in nonoperating transfer budget |
17 | authority for trust funds in the Department of Children |
18 | and Family Services; authorizing the Department of |
19 | Corrections and the Department of Juvenile Justice to make |
20 | certain expenditures to defray costs incurred by a |
21 | municipality or county as a result of opening or operating |
22 | a facility under authority of the respective department; |
23 | amending s. 216.262, F.S.; providing for additional |
24 | positions to operate additional prison bed capacity under |
25 | certain circumstances; amending s. 216.292, F.S.; |
26 | authorizing certain transfers of appropriations for |
27 | operations from general revenue between budget categories |
28 | and entities of the criminal conflict and civil regional |
29 | counsels and the budget category for child dependency and |
30 | civil conflict cases within the Justice Administrative |
31 | Commission; providing for future expiration of such |
32 | provisions; authorizing the Department of Legal Affairs to |
33 | expend appropriated funds on programs funded in the |
34 | preceding fiscal year; authorizing the Department of Legal |
35 | Affairs to transfer certain funds to pay salaries and |
36 | benefits; amending s. 112.24, F.S.; providing |
37 | circumstances under which a receiving party is not |
38 | required to pay certain reimbursement costs for a state |
39 | employee pursuant to an intergovernmental interchange; |
40 | authorizing the Executive Office of the Governor to |
41 | transfer funds between departments for purposes of |
42 | aligning amounts paid for risk management premiums and for |
43 | purposes of aligning amounts paid for human resource |
44 | management services; amending s. 110.123, F.S.; providing |
45 | for the state's monthly contribution for employees under |
46 | the state group insurance program; authorizing the |
47 | Department of Financial Services to expend certain funds |
48 | for salaries and related expenses; amending s. 215.5595, |
49 | F.S.; revising legislative findings; providing for |
50 | appropriated state funds to be exchanged for surplus notes |
51 | issued by residential property insurers under the program; |
52 | revising the conditions and requirements for providing |
53 | funds to insurers under the program; requiring a |
54 | commitment by the insurer to meet minimum premium-to- |
55 | surplus writing ratios for residential property insurance |
56 | and for taking policies out of Citizens Property Insurance |
57 | Corporation; authorizing the State Board of Administration |
58 | to charge a fee for late payments; providing that |
59 | amendments made by the act do not affect the terms of |
60 | surplus notes approved prior to a specified date; |
61 | authorizing the State Board of Administration and an |
62 | insurer to renegotiate such terms consistent with such |
63 | amendments; requiring Citizens Property Insurance |
64 | Corporation to transfer funds to the General Revenue Fund |
65 | for appropriation by the Legislature for program purposes; |
66 | amending s. 252.373, F.S.; requiring the Division of |
67 | Emergency Management to provide emergency power generators |
68 | to special-needs hurricane evacuation shelters from the |
69 | Emergency Management, Preparedness, and Assistance Trust |
70 | Fund; amending s. 215.559, F.S.; requiring the Division of |
71 | Emergency Management to provide emergency power generators |
72 | to special-needs hurricane evacuation shelters from the |
73 | Grants and Donations Trust Fund; amending s. 288.1088, |
74 | F.S.; requiring the availability of incentives to |
75 | stimulate economic growth in certain rural areas; amending |
76 | s. 553.75, F.S.; authorizing the use of communication |
77 | media technology at certain meetings of the Florida |
78 | Building Commission; amending s. 259.032, F.S.; authorizes |
79 | the transfer of funds from the Conservation and Recreation |
80 | Lands Trust Fund for certain cleanup and beach restoration |
81 | activities; providing for reversion of certain provisions; |
82 | amending s. 216.221, F.S.; providing for conditions under |
83 | which the Governor is authorized to request a transfer of |
84 | funds from the Budget Stabilization Fund to the General |
85 | Revenue Fund; amending s. 215.5601, F.S.; providing for |
86 | conditions under which the Governor is authorized to |
87 | request a transfer of funds from the Lawton Chiles |
88 | Endowment Fund to the General Revenue Fund and providing |
89 | for a schedule of repayment; providing for the effect of a |
90 | veto of one or more specific appropriations or proviso to |
91 | which implementing language refers; providing for the |
92 | continued operation of certain provisions notwithstanding |
93 | a future repeal or expiration provided by the act; |
94 | providing for severability; providing effective dates. |
95 |
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96 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
97 |
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98 | Section 1. It is the intent of the Legislature that the |
99 | implementing and administering provisions of this act apply to |
100 | the General Appropriations Act for the 2008-2009 fiscal year. |
101 | Section 2. In order to implement Specific Appropriation |
102 | 101 of the 2008-2009 General Appropriations Act, paragraph (a) |
103 | of subsection (2) of section 1001.451, Florida Statutes, is |
104 | amended to read: |
105 | 1001.451 Regional consortium service organizations.--In |
106 | order to provide a full range of programs to larger numbers of |
107 | students, minimize duplication of services, and encourage the |
108 | development of new programs and services: |
109 | (2)(a)1. Each regional consortium service organization |
110 | that consists of four or more school districts is eligible to |
111 | receive, through the Department of Education, an incentive grant |
112 | of $50,000 per school district and eligible member to be used |
113 | for the delivery of services within the participating school |
114 | districts. The determination of services and use of such funds |
115 | shall be established by the board of directors of the regional |
116 | consortium service organization. The funds shall be distributed |
117 | to each regional consortium service organization no later than |
118 | 30 days following the release of the funds to the department. |
119 | 2. For the 2008-2009 fiscal year only, the amount of the |
120 | incentive grant authorized under subparagraph 1. is reduced by 4 |
121 | percent to $48,000 per school district and eligible member. This |
122 | subparagraph expires July 1, 2009. |
123 | Section 3. In order to implement Specific Appropriation 81 |
124 | of the 2008-2009 General Appropriations Act, subsection (5) of |
125 | section 1012.225, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
126 | 1012.225 Merit Award Program for Instructional Personnel |
127 | and School-Based Administrators.-- |
128 | (5) REVIEW OF PERFORMANCE-BASED PAY PLANS.-- |
129 | (a) Each participating district school board must submit |
130 | its Merit Award Program plan for the 2008-2009 fiscal year to |
131 | the Commissioner of Education for review by October 1, 2008 of |
132 | each year. The plan must include the negotiated, district- |
133 | adopted plan or charter school adopted plan if the district does |
134 | not submit a plan intended for use in the following year. The |
135 | commissioner shall complete a review of each plan submitted and |
136 | determine compliance with the requirements of this section by |
137 | November 15 of each year. If a submitted plan fails to meet the |
138 | requirements of this section, the commissioner must identify in |
139 | writing the specific revisions that are required. Revised plans |
140 | must be finalized and resubmitted by a school district, or by a |
141 | charter school if the district does not submit a plan, for the |
142 | commissioner's review by January 31 of each year. The |
143 | commissioner shall certify those school district or charter |
144 | school plans that do not comply with this section to the |
145 | Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the |
146 | House of Representatives by February 15 of each year. |
147 | (b) Any charter school that does not follow the school |
148 | district's salary schedule may adopt its own performance-based |
149 | plan in accordance with this section. Charter school proposals |
150 | shall be included with the school district plans or may be |
151 | submitted independently if the district does not submit a plan. |
152 | (c) Each district school board shall establish a procedure |
153 | to annually review both the assessment and compensation |
154 | components of its plan in order to determine compliance with |
155 | this section. After this review and by October 1 of each year, |
156 | the district school board shall submit a report to the |
157 | Commissioner of Education, along with supporting documentation |
158 | that will enable the commissioner to verify the district's |
159 | compliance with this section during the prior school year. The |
160 | commissioner shall submit a report to the Governor, the |
161 | President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of |
162 | Representatives certifying those school district or charter |
163 | school plans that do not comply with this section or whose plans |
164 | were not implemented in accordance with this section by December |
165 | 1 of each year. |
166 | (d) For purposes of the 2007-2008 school year, the plan |
167 | submitted as required in paragraph (a) applies to the 2007-2008 |
168 | school year as well as the 2008-2009 school year. Thereafter, |
169 | all plans submitted and approved within the timelines set forth |
170 | in paragraph (a) apply to the following school year. |
171 | Section 4. The amendments to s. 1012.225(5), Florida |
172 | Statutes, made by this act shall expire July 1, 2009, and the |
173 | text of that section shall revert to that in existence on June |
174 | 30, 2008, except that any amendments to such text enacted other |
175 | than by this act shall be preserved and continue to operate to |
176 | the extent that such amendments are not dependent upon the |
177 | portions of such text which expire pursuant to this section. |
178 | Section 5. In order to implement Specific Appropriations |
179 | 376 through 415 of the 2008-2009 General Appropriations Act, |
180 | subsection (3) of section 394.908, Florida Statutes, is amended |
181 | to read: |
182 | 394.908 Substance abuse and mental health funding equity; |
183 | distribution of appropriations.--In recognition of the |
184 | historical inequity in the funding of substance abuse and mental |
185 | health services for the department's districts and regions and |
186 | to rectify this inequity and provide for equitable funding in |
187 | the future throughout the state, the following funding process |
188 | shall be used: |
189 | (3)(a) Any additional funding beyond the 2005-2006 fiscal |
190 | year base appropriation for alcohol, drug abuse, and mental |
191 | health services shall be allocated to districts for substance |
192 | abuse and mental health services based on: |
193 | 1.(a) Epidemiological estimates of disabilities that apply |
194 | to the respective target populations. |
195 | 2.(b) A pro rata share distribution that ensures districts |
196 | below the statewide average funding level per person in each |
197 | target population of "persons in need" receive funding necessary |
198 | to achieve equity. |
199 | (b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) and for the 2008-2009 |
200 | fiscal year only, funds appropriated for forensic mental health |
201 | treatment services shall be allocated to the areas of the state |
202 | having the greatest demand for services and treatment capacity. |
203 | This paragraph expires July 1, 2009. |
204 | (c) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) and for the 2008-2009 |
205 | fiscal year only, additional funds appropriated for mental |
206 | health services from funds available through the Community-Based |
207 | Medicaid Administrative Claiming Program shall be allocated as |
208 | provided in the 2008-2009 General Appropriations Act and in |
209 | proportion to contributed provider earnings. Where these mental |
210 | health funds are used in lieu of funds from the General Revenue |
211 | Fund, the allocation of funds shall be unchanged from the |
212 | allocation for those funds for the 2007-2008 fiscal year. This |
213 | paragraph expires July 1, 2009. |
214 | Section 6. Health care collaborative action network and |
215 | discount health care pilot program.-- |
216 | (1) In order to implement Specific Appropriation 588 of |
217 | the 2008-2009 General Appropriations Act, the Department of |
218 | Health shall develop and establish a health care collaborative |
219 | action network as a 1-year pilot program in Miami-Dade County. |
220 | (2) In order to implement the pilot program, the Miami- |
221 | Dade County Health Department shall: |
222 | (a) Establish an alliance of hospitals, federally |
223 | qualified health centers, free clinics, physician groups and |
224 | other health care providers in Miami-Dade County for the purpose |
225 | of increasing access to and coordination of care. Approval of a |
226 | certificate of need by the Agency for Health Care Administration |
227 | for any provider in Miami-Dade County during the 1-year pilot |
228 | program shall be contingent on that provider actively |
229 | participating in the alliance. The Department of Health shall |
230 | require all contract providers in Miami-Dade County to |
231 | participate in the alliance as a condition of the contract and |
232 | shall impose this requirement on all future contracts entered |
233 | into during the 1-year pilot program and amend all existing |
234 | contracts to reflect this requirement. |
235 | (b) Ensure coordination of service delivery, increased |
236 | access to health care, enhanced cooperation among participating |
237 | network providers, elimination of duplication, and establishment |
238 | of a medical home for all patients served by members of the |
239 | network. |
240 | (c) Establish a discount health care card program and |
241 | negotiate with provider members of the alliance to establish |
242 | discounted charges for services provided to enrollees in the |
243 | discount health care card program. Approval of a certificate of |
244 | need by the Agency for Health Care Administration for any |
245 | provider in Miami-Dade County during the 1-year pilot program |
246 | shall be contingent on that provider actively participating in |
247 | the discount health care card program. The Department of Health |
248 | shall require all contract providers in Miami-Dade County to |
249 | participate in the discount health care card program as a |
250 | condition of the contract and shall impose this requirement on |
251 | all future contracts entered into during the 1-year pilot |
252 | program and amend all existing contracts to reflect this |
253 | requirement. |
254 | (d) Ensure that the discount health care card is available |
255 | to any uninsured resident of Miami-Dade County with a family |
256 | income below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. |
257 | Reimbursement or payment for health care services by a |
258 | participant's health insurance policy or health plan or other |
259 | coverage contract shall be governed by the terms of that |
260 | contract. |
261 | (e) Ensure that primary care services, either for free or |
262 | at a discount rate, are made available to all uninsured and |
263 | underserved populations in Miami-Dade County by the network |
264 | members. |
265 | (f) Encourage participating providers to create and |
266 | maintain an electronic medical record for each Miami-Dade County |
267 | resident who participates in the pilot program. |
268 | (3) On January 1, 2009, the department shall submit to the |
269 | Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the |
270 | House of Representatives a report on the success and outcomes |
271 | achieved by the pilot program, which must include a |
272 | recommendation as to whether the pilot program should be |
273 | continued, terminated, or expanded in the next fiscal year. |
274 | (4) This section expires July 1, 2009. |
275 | Section 7. In order to implement Specific Appropriations |
276 | 290 through 469 of the 2008-2009 General Appropriations Act and |
277 | notwithstanding the provisions of chapter 216, Florida Statutes, |
278 | the Executive Office of the Governor, in consultation with the |
279 | Legislature, may approve the increase in nonoperating transfer |
280 | budget authority for trust funds in the Department of Children |
281 | and Family Services to continue programs authorized by the 2008- |
282 | 2009 General Appropriations Act. This section expires July 1, |
283 | 2009. |
284 | Section 8. In order to fulfill legislative intent |
285 | regarding the use of funds contained in Specific Appropriations |
286 | 721L, 721X, 721AI, and 1146 of the 2008-2009 General |
287 | Appropriations Act, the Department of Corrections and the |
288 | Department of Juvenile Justice may expend appropriated funds to |
289 | assist in defraying the costs of impacts that are incurred by a |
290 | municipality or county and associated with opening or operating |
291 | a facility under the authority of the respective department |
292 | which is located within that municipality or county. The amount |
293 | that is to be paid under this section for any facility may not |
294 | exceed 1 percent of the facility construction cost, less |
295 | building impact fees imposed by the municipality or by the |
296 | county if the facility is located in the unincorporated portion |
297 | of the county. This section expires July 1, 2009. |
298 | Section 9. In order to implement Specific Appropriations |
299 | 721A through 760H and 780 through 806 of the 2008-2009 General |
300 | Appropriations Act, subsection (4) of section 216.262, Florida |
301 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
302 | 216.262 Authorized positions.-- |
303 | (4) Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter on |
304 | increasing the number of authorized positions, and for the 2008- |
305 | 2009 2007-2008 fiscal year only, if the actual inmate population |
306 | of the Department of Corrections exceeds the inmate population |
307 | projections of the February 15, 2008 February 16, 2007, Criminal |
308 | Justice Estimating Conference by 1 percent for 2 consecutive |
309 | months or 2 percent for any month, the Executive Office of the |
310 | Governor, with the approval of the Legislative Budget |
311 | Commission, shall immediately notify the Criminal Justice |
312 | Estimating Conference, which shall convene as soon as possible |
313 | to revise the estimates. The Department of Corrections may then |
314 | submit a budget amendment requesting the establishment of |
315 | positions in excess of the number authorized by the Legislature |
316 | and additional appropriations from unallocated general revenue |
317 | sufficient to provide for essential staff, fixed capital |
318 | improvements, and other resources to provide classification, |
319 | security, food services, health services, and other variable |
320 | expenses within the institutions to accommodate the estimated |
321 | increase in the inmate population. All actions taken pursuant to |
322 | the authority granted in this subsection shall be subject to |
323 | review and approval by the Legislative Budget Commission. This |
324 | subsection expires July 1, 2009 2008. |
325 | Section 10. In order to implement Specific Appropriations |
326 | 819, 821, and 1048 through 1072 of the 2008-2009 General |
327 | Appropriations Act, paragraphs (c), (d), and (e) of subsection |
328 | (3) of section 216.292, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
329 | 216.292 Appropriations nontransferable; exceptions.-- |
330 | (3) The following transfers are authorized with the |
331 | approval of the Executive Office of the Governor for the |
332 | executive branch or the Chief Justice for the judicial branch, |
333 | subject to the notice and objection provisions of s. 216.177: |
334 | (c) The transfer of appropriations for operations from |
335 | general revenue between categories of appropriations within each |
336 | criminal conflict and civil regional counsel budget entity. This |
337 | paragraph expires July 1, 2009 2008. |
338 | (d) The transfer of appropriations for operations from |
339 | general revenue between criminal conflict and civil regional |
340 | counsel budget entities. This paragraph expires July 1, 2009 |
341 | 2008. |
342 | (e) The transfer of appropriations for operations from |
343 | general revenue between criminal conflict and civil regional |
344 | counsel budget entities and the child dependency and civil |
345 | conflict case appropriation category and the criminal conflict |
346 | case costs appropriation category within the Justice |
347 | Administrative Commission. This paragraph expires July 1, 2009 |
348 | 2008. |
349 | Section 11. In order to implement Specific Appropriations |
350 | 1301 and 1302 of the 2008-2009 General Appropriations Act, the |
351 | Department of Legal Affairs is authorized to expend appropriated |
352 | funds in those specific appropriations on the same programs that |
353 | were funded by the department pursuant to specific |
354 | appropriations made in general appropriations acts in prior |
355 | years. This section expires July 1, 2009. |
356 | Section 12. In order to implement Specific Appropriations |
357 | 1266, 1286, 1307, and 1317 of the 2008-2009 General |
358 | Appropriations Act, the Department of Legal Affairs is |
359 | authorized to transfer cash remaining after required |
360 | disbursements from Attorney General case numbers L01-6-1004, |
361 | L03-6-1002, and L01-6-1009 from FLAIR account 41-74-2-601001- |
362 | 41100100-00-181076-00 to the Operating Trust fund to pay |
363 | salaries and benefits. This section expires July 1, 2009. |
364 | Section 13. In order to implement Specific Appropriations |
365 | for salaries and benefits in the 2008-2009 General |
366 | Appropriations Act, paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of section |
367 | 112.24, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
368 | 112.24 Intergovernmental interchange of public |
369 | employees.--To encourage economical and effective utilization of |
370 | public employees in this state, the temporary assignment of |
371 | employees among agencies of government, both state and local, |
372 | and including school districts and public institutions of higher |
373 | education is authorized under terms and conditions set forth in |
374 | this section. State agencies, municipalities, and political |
375 | subdivisions are authorized to enter into employee interchange |
376 | agreements with other state agencies, the Federal Government, |
377 | another state, a municipality, or a political subdivision |
378 | including a school district, or with a public institution of |
379 | higher education. State agencies are also authorized to enter |
380 | into employee interchange agreements with private institutions |
381 | of higher education and other nonprofit organizations under the |
382 | terms and conditions provided in this section. In addition, the |
383 | Governor or the Governor and Cabinet may enter into employee |
384 | interchange agreements with a state agency, the Federal |
385 | Government, another state, a municipality, or a political |
386 | subdivision including a school district, or with a public |
387 | institution of higher learning to fill, subject to the |
388 | requirements of chapter 20, appointive offices which are within |
389 | the executive branch of government and which are filled by |
390 | appointment by the Governor or the Governor and Cabinet. Under |
391 | no circumstances shall employee interchange agreements be |
392 | utilized for the purpose of assigning individuals to participate |
393 | in political campaigns. Duties and responsibilities of |
394 | interchange employees shall be limited to the mission and goals |
395 | of the agencies of government. |
396 | (3) Salary, leave, travel and transportation, and |
397 | reimbursements for an employee of a sending party that is |
398 | participating in an interchange program shall be handled as |
399 | follows: |
400 | (b)1. The assignment of an employee of a state agency |
401 | either on detail or on leave of absence may be made without |
402 | reimbursement by the receiving party for the travel and |
403 | transportation expenses to or from the place of the assignment |
404 | or for the pay and benefits, or a part thereof, of the employee |
405 | during the assignment. |
406 | 2. For the 2008-2009 fiscal year only, the assignment of |
407 | an employee of a state agency as provided in subparagraph 1. may |
408 | only be made as authorized in the General Appropriations Act. |
409 | This subparagraph expires July 1, 2009. |
410 | Section 14. In order to implement the appropriation of |
411 | funds in Special Categories-Risk Management Insurance of the |
412 | 2008-2009 General Appropriations Act, and pursuant to the |
413 | notice, review, and objection procedures of s. 216.177, Florida |
414 | Statutes, the Executive Office of the Governor is authorized to |
415 | transfer funds appropriated in the appropriation category |
416 | "Special Categories-Risk Management Insurance" of the 2008-2009 |
417 | General Appropriations Act between departments in order to align |
418 | the budget authority granted with the premiums paid by each |
419 | department for risk management insurance. This section expires |
420 | July 1, 2009. |
421 | Section 15. In order to implement the appropriation of |
422 | funds in Special Categories-Transfer to Department of Management |
423 | Services-Human Resources Services Purchased Per Statewide |
424 | Contract of the 2008-2009 General Appropriations Act, and |
425 | pursuant to the notice, review, and objection procedures of s. |
426 | 216.177, Florida Statutes, the Executive Office of the Governor |
427 | is authorized to transfer funds appropriated in the |
428 | appropriation category "Special Categories-Transfer to |
429 | Department of Management Services-Human Resources Services |
430 | Purchased Per Statewide Contract" of the 2008-2009 General |
431 | Appropriations Act between departments in order to align the |
432 | budget authority granted with the assessments that must be paid |
433 | by each agency to the Department of Management Services for |
434 | human resource management services. This section expires July 1, |
435 | 2009. |
436 | Section 16. In order to implement specific appropriations |
437 | for salaries and benefits in the 2008-2009 General |
438 | Appropriations Act, paragraph (a) of subsection (12) of section |
439 | 110.123, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
440 | 110.123 State group insurance program.-- |
441 | (12) HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNTS.--The department is |
442 | authorized to establish health savings accounts for full-time |
443 | and part-time state employees in association with a health |
444 | insurance plan option authorized by the Legislature and |
445 | conforming to the requirements and limitations of federal |
446 | provisions relating to the Medicare Prescription Drug, |
447 | Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003. |
448 | (a)1. A member participating in this health insurance plan |
449 | option shall be eligible to receive an employer contribution |
450 | into the employee's health savings account from the State |
451 | Employees Health Insurance Trust Fund in an amount to be |
452 | determined by the Legislature. A member is not eligible for an |
453 | employer contribution upon termination of employment. For the |
454 | 2008-2009 2007-2008 fiscal year, the state's monthly |
455 | contribution for employees having individual coverage shall be |
456 | $41.66 and the monthly contribution for employees having family |
457 | coverage shall be $83.33. |
458 | 2. A member participating in this health insurance plan |
459 | option shall be eligible to deposit the member's own funds into |
460 | a health savings account. |
461 | Section 17. In order to implement Specific Appropriations |
462 | 2536, 2537, 2538, and 2542 of the 2008-2009 General |
463 | Appropriations Act, for the 2008-2009 fiscal year only and |
464 | notwithstanding any conflicting requirements of section 4 of |
465 | chapter 2006-12, Laws of Florida, the Department of Financial |
466 | Services may expend $998,820 of the funds appropriated by |
467 | section 4 of chapter 2006-12, Laws of Florida, for salaries and |
468 | related expenses. This section expires July 1, 2009. |
469 | Section 18. In order to implement section 38 of the 2008- |
470 | 2009 General Appropriations Act, section 215.5595, Florida |
471 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
472 | 215.5595 Insurance Capital Build-Up Incentive Program.-- |
473 | (1) Upon entering the 2008 2006 hurricane season, the |
474 | Legislature finds that: |
475 | (a) The losses in this state Florida from eight hurricanes |
476 | in 2004 and 2005 have seriously strained the resources of both |
477 | the voluntary insurance market and the public sector mechanisms |
478 | of Citizens Property Insurance Corporation and the Florida |
479 | Hurricane Catastrophe Fund. |
480 | (b) Private reinsurance is much less available and at a |
481 | significantly greater cost to residential property insurers as |
482 | compared to 1 year ago, particularly for amounts below the |
483 | insurer's retention or retained losses that must be paid before |
484 | reimbursement is provided by the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe |
485 | Fund. |
486 | (c) The Office of Insurance Regulation has reported that |
487 | the insolvency of certain insurers may be imminent. |
488 | (d) Hurricane forecast experts predict that the 2006 |
489 | hurricane season will be an active hurricane season and that the |
490 | Atlantic and Gulf Coast regions face an active hurricane cycle |
491 | of 10 to 20 years or longer. |
492 | (b)(e) Citizens Property Insurance Corporation has over |
493 | 1.2 million policies in force and has the largest market share |
494 | of any insurer writing residential property insurance in this |
495 | state, and faces the threat of a catastrophic loss that The |
496 | number of cancellations or nonrenewals of residential property |
497 | insurance policies is expected to increase and the number of new |
498 | residential policies written in the voluntary market are likely |
499 | to decrease, causing increased policy growth and exposure to the |
500 | state insurer of last resort, Citizens Property Insurance |
501 | Corporation, and threatening to increase the deficit of the |
502 | corporation, currently estimated to be over $1.7 billion. This |
503 | deficit must be funded by assessments against insurers and |
504 | policyholders, unless otherwise funded by the state. The program |
505 | has a substantial positive effect on the depopulation efforts of |
506 | Citizens Property Insurance Corporation since companies |
507 | participating in the program have removed over 199,000 policies |
508 | from the corporation. Companies participating in the program |
509 | have issued a significant number of new polices thereby keeping |
510 | an estimated 480,000 new polices out of the corporation. |
511 | (c)(f) Policyholders are subject to high increased |
512 | premiums and assessments that are increasingly making such |
513 | coverage unaffordable and that may force policyholders to sell |
514 | their homes and even leave the state. |
515 | (d)(g) The increased risk to the public sector and private |
516 | sector continues to pose poses a serious threat to the economy |
517 | of this state, particularly the building and financing of |
518 | residential structures, and existing mortgages may be placed in |
519 | default. |
520 | (h) The losses from 2004 and 2005, combined with the |
521 | expectation that the increase in hurricane activity will |
522 | continue for the foreseeable future, have caused both insurers |
523 | and reinsurers to limit the capital they are willing to commit |
524 | to covering the hurricane risk in Florida; attracting new |
525 | capital to the Florida market is a critical priority; and |
526 | providing a low-cost source of capital would enable insurers to |
527 | write additional residential property insurance coverage and act |
528 | to mitigate premium increases. |
529 | (e)(i) Appropriating state funds to be exchanged for used |
530 | as surplus notes issued by for residential property insurers, |
531 | under conditions requiring the insurer to contribute additional |
532 | private sector capital and to write a minimum level of premiums |
533 | for residential hurricane coverage, is a valid and important |
534 | public purpose. |
535 | (f) Extending the program will provide an incentive for |
536 | investors to commit additional capital to the residential |
537 | insurance market in this state. |
538 | (2) The purpose of this section is to provide funds in |
539 | exchange for surplus notes to be issued by new or existing |
540 | authorized residential property insurers under the Insurance |
541 | Capital Build-Up Incentive Program administered by the State |
542 | Board of Administration, under the following conditions: |
543 | (a) The amount of state funds provided in exchange for a |
544 | the surplus note to for any insurer or insurer group, other than |
545 | an insurer writing only manufactured housing policies, may not |
546 | exceed $25 million or 20 percent of the total amount of funds |
547 | appropriated for available under the program, whichever is |
548 | greater. The amount of the surplus note for any insurer or |
549 | insurer group writing residential property insurance covering |
550 | only manufactured housing may not exceed $7 million. |
551 | (b) The insurer must contribute an amount of new capital |
552 | to its surplus which is at least equal to the amount of the |
553 | surplus note and must apply to the board by September 1, 2008 |
554 | July 1, 2006. If an insurer applies after September 1, 2008 July |
555 | 1, 2006, but before June 1, 2009 2007, the amount of the surplus |
556 | note is limited to one-half of the new capital that the insurer |
557 | contributes to its surplus, except that an insurer writing only |
558 | manufactured housing policies is eligible to receive a surplus |
559 | note of up to $7 million. For purposes of this section, new |
560 | capital must be in the form of cash or cash equivalents as |
561 | specified in s. 625.012(1). |
562 | (c) The insurer's surplus, new capital, and the surplus |
563 | note must total at least $50 million, except for insurers |
564 | writing residential property insurance covering only |
565 | manufactured housing. The insurer's surplus, new capital, and |
566 | the surplus note must total at least $14 million for insurers |
567 | writing only residential property insurance covering |
568 | manufactured housing policies as provided in paragraph (a). |
569 | (d) The insurer must commit to increase its writings of |
570 | residential property insurance, including the peril of wind, and |
571 | to meet meeting a minimum writing ratio of net written premium |
572 | to surplus of at least 1:1 for the first year after receiving |
573 | the state funds, 1.5:1 for the second year, and 2:1 for the |
574 | remaining term of the surplus note. Alternatively, the insurer |
575 | must meet a minimum writing ratio of gross written premium to |
576 | surplus of at least 3:1 for the first year after receiving the |
577 | state funds, 4.5:1 for the second year, and 6:1 for the |
578 | remaining term of the surplus note. The writing ratios, which |
579 | shall be determined by the Office of Insurance Regulation and |
580 | certified quarterly to the board. For this purpose, the term |
581 | "net written premium" means net written premium for residential |
582 | property insurance in this state Florida, including the peril of |
583 | wind, and "surplus" refers to the entire surplus of the insurer. |
584 | The insurer must also commit to writing at least 10 percent of |
585 | its net or gross written premium for new policies, not including |
586 | renewal premiums, for policies taken out of Citizens Property |
587 | Insurance Corporation, during each of the first 3 years after |
588 | receiving the state funds in exchange for the surplus note, |
589 | which shall be determined by the Office of Insurance Regulation |
590 | and certified annually to the board. The office may determine |
591 | that an insurer meets the requirement for taking policies out of |
592 | the corporation, by written notice to the board, upon a finding |
593 | that the insurer made offers of coverage to policyholders of the |
594 | corporation which would have resulted in meeting this |
595 | requirement had the policyholders accepted the offer. If the |
596 | required ratio or the required writings for policies taken out |
597 | of the corporation is not maintained during the term of the |
598 | surplus note, the board may increase the interest rate, |
599 | accelerate the repayment of interest and principal, or shorten |
600 | the term of the surplus note, subject to approval by the |
601 | Commissioner of Insurance of payments by the insurer of |
602 | principal and interest as provided in paragraph (f). |
603 | (e) If the requirements of this section are met, the board |
604 | may approve an application by an insurer for funds in exchange |
605 | for issuance of a surplus note, unless the board determines that |
606 | the financial condition of the insurer and its business plan for |
607 | writing residential property insurance in Florida places an |
608 | unreasonably high level of financial risk to the state of |
609 | nonpayment in full of the interest and principal. The board |
610 | shall consult with the Office of Insurance Regulation and may |
611 | contract with independent financial and insurance consultants in |
612 | making this determination. |
613 | (f) The surplus note must be repayable to the state with a |
614 | term of 20 years. The surplus note shall accrue interest on the |
615 | unpaid principal balance at a rate equivalent to the 10-year |
616 | U.S. Treasury Bond rate, require the payment only of interest |
617 | during the first 3 years, and include such other terms as |
618 | approved by the board. The board may charge late fees up to 5 |
619 | percent for late payments or other late remittances. Payment of |
620 | principal, or interest, or late fees by the insurer on the |
621 | surplus note must be approved by the Commissioner of Insurance, |
622 | who shall approve such payment unless the commissioner |
623 | determines that such payment will substantially impair the |
624 | financial condition of the insurer. If such a determination is |
625 | made, the commissioner shall approve such payment that will not |
626 | substantially impair the financial condition of the insurer. |
627 | (g) The total amount of funds available for the program is |
628 | limited to the amount appropriated by the Legislature for this |
629 | purpose. If the amount of surplus notes requested by insurers |
630 | exceeds the amount of funds available, the board may prioritize |
631 | insurers that are eligible and approved, with priority for |
632 | funding given to insurers writing only manufactured housing |
633 | policies, regardless of the date of application, based on the |
634 | financial strength of the insurer, the viability of its proposed |
635 | business plan for writing additional residential property |
636 | insurance in the state, and the effect on competition in the |
637 | residential property insurance market. Between insurers writing |
638 | residential property insurance covering manufactured housing, |
639 | priority shall be given to the insurer writing the highest |
640 | percentage of its policies covering manufactured housing. |
641 | (h) The board may allocate portions of the funds available |
642 | for the program and establish dates for insurers to apply for |
643 | surplus notes from such allocation which are earlier than the |
644 | dates established in paragraph (b). |
645 | (h)(i) Notwithstanding paragraph (d), a newly formed |
646 | manufactured housing insurer that is eligible for a surplus note |
647 | under this section shall meet the premium to surplus ratio |
648 | provisions of s. 624.4095. |
649 | (i)(j) As used in this section, "an insurer writing only |
650 | manufactured housing policies" includes: |
651 | 1. A Florida domiciled insurer that begins writing |
652 | personal lines residential manufactured housing policies in |
653 | Florida after March 1, 2007, and that removes a minimum of |
654 | 50,000 policies from Citizens Property Insurance Corporation |
655 | without accepting a bonus, provided at least 25 percent of its |
656 | policies cover manufactured housing. Such an insurer may count |
657 | any funds above the minimum capital and surplus requirement that |
658 | were contributed into the insurer after March 1, 2007, as new |
659 | capital under this section. |
660 | 2. A Florida domiciled insurer that writes at least 40 |
661 | percent of its policies covering manufactured housing in |
662 | Florida. |
663 | (3) As used in this section, the term: |
664 | (a) "Board" means the State Board of Administration. |
665 | (b) "Program" means the Insurance Capital Build-Up |
666 | Incentive Program established by this section. |
667 | (4) The state funds provided to the insurer in exchange |
668 | for the A surplus note provided to an insurer pursuant to this |
669 | section are is considered borrowed surplus an asset of the |
670 | insurer pursuant to s. 628.401 625.012. |
671 | (5) If an insurer that receives funds in exchange for the |
672 | issuance of a surplus note pursuant to this section is rendered |
673 | insolvent, the state is a class 3 creditor pursuant to s. |
674 | 631.271 for the unpaid principal and interest on the surplus |
675 | note. |
676 | (6) The board shall adopt rules prescribing the |
677 | procedures, administration, and criteria for approving the |
678 | applications of insurers to receive funds in exchange for |
679 | issuance of surplus notes pursuant to this section, which may be |
680 | adopted pursuant to the procedures for emergency rules of |
681 | chapter 120. Otherwise, actions and determinations by the board |
682 | pursuant to this section are exempt from chapter 120. |
683 | (7) The board shall invest and reinvest the funds |
684 | appropriated for the program in accordance with s. 215.47 and |
685 | consistent with board policy. |
686 | (8) The amendments to this section enacted in 2008 do not |
687 | affect the terms or conditions of surplus notes that were |
688 | approved prior to January 1, 2008. However, the board may |
689 | renegotiate the terms of any surplus note issued by an insurer |
690 | prior to January 2008 under this program, upon the agreement of |
691 | the insurer and the board, consistent with the requirements of |
692 | this section as amended in 2008. |
693 | (9) Citizens Property Insurance Corporation shall transfer |
694 | $250 million to the General Revenue Fund on or before August 1, |
695 | 2008, for appropriation by the Legislature to the program. |
696 | Section 19. The amendments to s. 215.5595, Florida |
697 | Statutes, made by this act shall expire July 1, 2009, and the |
698 | text of that section shall revert to that in existence on June |
699 | 30, 2008, except that any amendments to such text enacted other |
700 | than by this act shall be preserved and continue to operate to |
701 | the extent that such amendments are not dependent upon the |
702 | portions of such text which expire pursuant to this section. |
703 | Section 20. In order to implement Specific Appropriation |
704 | 1541 of the 2008-2009 General Appropriations Act, subsection (5) |
705 | is added to section 252.373, Florida Statutes, to read: |
706 | 252.373 Allocation of funds; rules.-- |
707 | (5) Notwithstanding subsection (1) and for the 2008-2009 |
708 | fiscal year only, the Division of Emergency Management shall use |
709 | funds appropriated from the Emergency Management, Preparedness, |
710 | and Assistance Trust Fund to provide emergency power generators |
711 | in special-needs hurricane evacuation shelters pursuant to the |
712 | provisions of section 1 of chapter 2006-71, Laws of Florida, |
713 | except that such funds may not be used for administrative |
714 | purposes and the matching fund requirements of Specific |
715 | Appropriation 1541 of the 2008-2009 General Appropriations Act |
716 | must be met. This subsection expires July 1, 2009. |
717 | Section 21. In order to implement Specific Appropriation |
718 | 1541 of the 2008-2009 General Appropriations Act, subsection (8) |
719 | of section 215.559, Florida Statutes, is renumbered as |
720 | subsection (9), and a new subsection (8) is added to that |
721 | section to read: |
722 | 215.559 Hurricane Loss Mitigation Program.-- |
723 | (8) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section |
724 | and for the 2008-2009 fiscal year only, the Division of |
725 | Emergency Management shall use funds appropriated from the |
726 | Grants and Donations Trust Fund to provide emergency power |
727 | generators in special-needs hurricane evacuation shelters |
728 | pursuant to the provisions of section 1 of chapter 2006-71, Laws |
729 | of Florida, except that such funds may not be used for |
730 | administrative purposes and the matching fund requirements of |
731 | Specific Appropriation 1541 of the 2008-2009 General |
732 | Appropriations Act must be met. This subsection expires July 1, |
733 | 2009. |
734 | Section 22. In order to implement Specific Appropriation |
735 | 2635 of the 2008-2009 General Appropriations Act, subsection (1) |
736 | of section 288.1088, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
737 | 288.1088 Quick Action Closing Fund.-- |
738 | (1)(a) The Legislature finds that attracting, retaining, |
739 | and providing favorable conditions for the growth of certain |
740 | high-impact business facilities, privately developed critical |
741 | rural infrastructure, or key facilities in economically |
742 | distressed urban or rural communities which provide widespread |
743 | economic benefits to the public through high-quality employment |
744 | opportunities in such facilities or in related facilities |
745 | attracted to the state, through the increased tax base provided |
746 | by the high-impact facility and related businesses, through an |
747 | enhanced entrepreneurial climate in the state and the resulting |
748 | business and employment opportunities, and through the |
749 | stimulation and enhancement of the state's universities and |
750 | community colleges. In the global economy, there exists serious |
751 | and fierce international competition for these facilities, and |
752 | in most instances, when all available resources for economic |
753 | development have been used, the state continues to encounter |
754 | severe competitive disadvantages in vying for these business |
755 | facilities. Florida's rural areas must provide a competitive |
756 | environment for business in the information age. This often |
757 | requires an incentive to make it feasible for private investors |
758 | to provide infrastructure in those areas. The state's less |
759 | populated regions that seek economic development, that have |
760 | suitable land and water resources to accommodate growth in an |
761 | environmentally acceptable manner, and that have adopted a |
762 | conceptual long-term buildout overlay to the comprehensive plan |
763 | under s. 163.3184 and a detailed specific area plan that |
764 | implements the conceptual long-term buildout overlay to the |
765 | comprehensive plan must be provided incentives to actively |
766 | pursue high-impact business facilities that will serve as a |
767 | catalyst to stimulate economic growth. |
768 | (b) The Legislature therefore declares that sufficient |
769 | resources shall be available to respond to extraordinary |
770 | economic opportunities and to compete effectively for these |
771 | high-impact business facilities, critical private infrastructure |
772 | in rural areas, and key businesses in less populated regions and |
773 | economically distressed urban or rural communities. |
774 | Section 23. The amendments to s. 288.1088(1), Florida |
775 | Statutes, made by this act shall expire July 1, 2009, and the |
776 | text of that section shall revert to that in existence on June |
777 | 30, 2008, except that any amendments to such text enacted other |
778 | than by this act shall be preserved and continue to operate to |
779 | the extent that such amendments are not dependent upon the |
780 | portions of such text which expire pursuant to this section. |
781 | Section 24. In order to implement Specific Appropriation |
782 | 1591 of the 2008-2009 General Appropriations Act, subsection (3) |
783 | of section 553.75, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
784 | 553.75 Organization of commission; rules and regulations; |
785 | meetings; staff; fiscal affairs.-- |
786 | (3) The department shall be responsible for the provision |
787 | of administrative and staff support services relating to the |
788 | functions of the commission. With respect to matters within the |
789 | jurisdiction of the commission, the department shall be |
790 | responsible for the implementation and faithful discharge of all |
791 | decisions of the commission made pursuant to its authority under |
792 | the provisions of this part. The department may use |
793 | communications media technology to conduct any meetings of the |
794 | commission or meetings held in conjunction with the commission. |
795 | Section 25. The amendments to s. 553.75(3), Florida |
796 | Statutes, made by this act shall expire July 1, 2009, and the |
797 | text of that section shall revert to that in existence on June |
798 | 30, 2008, except that any amendments to such text enacted other |
799 | than by this act shall be preserved and continue to operate to |
800 | the extent that such amendments are not dependent upon the |
801 | portions of such text which expire pursuant to this section. |
802 | Section 26. In order to implement Specific Appropriations |
803 | 1748, 1756, and 1770 of the 2008-2009 General Appropriations |
804 | Act, paragraphs (c) and (d) are added to subsection (2) of |
805 | section 259.032, Florida Statutes, to read: |
806 | 259.032 Conservation and Recreation Lands Trust Fund; |
807 | purpose.-- |
808 | (2) |
809 | (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section |
810 | and for the 2008-2009 fiscal year only, funds in the |
811 | Conservation and Recreation Lands Trust Fund may be transferred |
812 | to the Nonmandatory Land Reclamation Trust Fund for activities |
813 | associated with the cleanup of the Mulberry and Piney Point |
814 | sites and expended as directed by the Legislature in the 2008- |
815 | 2009 General Appropriations Act. This paragraph expires July 1, |
816 | 2009. |
817 | (d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section |
818 | and for the 2008-2009 fiscal year only, funds in the |
819 | Conservation and Recreation Lands Trust Fund may be transferred |
820 | to the Ecosystem Management and Restoration Trust Fund for beach |
821 | restoration activities and expended as directed by the |
822 | Legislature in the 2008-2009 General Appropriations Act. This |
823 | paragraph expires July 1, 2009. |
824 | Section 27. In order to implement the 2008-2009 General |
825 | Appropriations Act, and effective upon this act becoming a law, |
826 | subsections (3) through (11) of section 216.221, Florida |
827 | Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (4) through (12), |
828 | respectively, and a new subsection (3) is added to that section |
829 | to read: |
830 | 216.221 Appropriations as maximum appropriations; |
831 | adjustment of budgets to avoid or eliminate deficits.-- |
832 | (3) Notwithstanding s. 216.222, and for the 2007-2008 and |
833 | 2008-2009 fiscal years only, if the Revenue Estimating |
834 | Conference projects that General Revenue Fund collections will |
835 | fall below the March 11, 2008, official estimates, adjusted for |
836 | changes in the law enacted at the 2008 Regular Session of the |
837 | Legislature, by $200 million or more in either year or in both |
838 | years combined, the Governor is authorized to submit to the |
839 | Legislative Budget Commission a budget amendment, and the |
840 | Legislative Budget Commission is authorized to approve such |
841 | budget amendment, requesting the transfer of funds from the |
842 | Budget Stabilization Fund to the General Revenue Fund. The total |
843 | of all such transfers made pursuant to this subsection may not |
844 | exceed the lesser of the projected revenue shortfalls as |
845 | described in this subsection or one-half of the May 1, 2008, |
846 | cash balance in the Budget Stabilization Fund. This subsection |
847 | expires July 1, 2009. |
848 | Section 28. In order to implement the 2008-2009 General |
849 | Appropriations Act, and effective upon this act becoming a law, |
850 | paragraph (f) is added to subsection (5) of section 215.5601, |
851 | Florida Statutes, to read: |
852 | 215.5601 Lawton Chiles Endowment Fund.-- |
853 | (5) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS; USES.-- |
854 | (f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, |
855 | and for the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 fiscal years only, if |
856 | transfers from the Budget Stabilization Fund authorized in s. |
857 | 216.221(3) are insufficient to address projected revenue |
858 | shortfalls as described in that subsection, the Governor is |
859 | authorized to submit to the Legislative Budget Commission a |
860 | budget amendment, and the Legislative Budget Commission is |
861 | authorized to approve such budget amendment, requesting the |
862 | transfer of funds from the Lawton Chiles Endowment Fund to the |
863 | General Revenue Fund. The total of all such transfers made |
864 | pursuant to this subsection shall not exceed the lesser of the |
865 | projected revenue shortfalls remaining after transfers from the |
866 | Budget Stabilization Fund as described in s. 216.221(3) or $1 |
867 | billion. Any expenditure from the Lawton Chiles Endowment Fund |
868 | made pursuant to this paragraph must be restored by making five |
869 | equal annual transfers from the General Revenue Fund, beginning |
870 | in the third fiscal year following that in which the expenditure |
871 | was made. This paragraph expires July 1, 2009. |
872 | Section 29. A section of this act that implements a |
873 | specific appropriation or specifically identified proviso |
874 | language in the 2008-2009 General Appropriations Act is void if |
875 | the specific appropriation or specifically identified proviso |
876 | language is vetoed. A section of this act that implements more |
877 | than one specific appropriation or more than one portion of |
878 | specifically identified proviso language in the 2008-2009 |
879 | General Appropriations Act is void if all the specific |
880 | appropriations or portions of specifically identified proviso |
881 | language are vetoed. |
882 | Section 30. If any other act passed in 2008 contains a |
883 | provision that is substantively the same as a provision in this |
884 | act, but that removes or is otherwise not subject to the future |
885 | repeal applied to such provision by this act, the Legislature |
886 | intends that the provision in the other act shall take |
887 | precedence and shall continue to operate, notwithstanding the |
888 | future repeal provided by this act. |
889 | Section 31. If any provision of this act or its |
890 | application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the |
891 | invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of |
892 | the act which can be given effect without the invalid provision |
893 | or application, and to this end the provisions of this act are |
894 | severable. |
895 | Section 32. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this |
896 | act, this act shall take effect July 1, 2008; or, if this act |
897 | fails to become a law until after that date, it shall take |
898 | effect upon becoming a law and shall operate retroactively to |
899 | July 1, 2008. |