CS/HB 1309

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to economic recovery from the Deepwater
3	Horizon disaster; amending s. 288.0656, F.S.; designating
4	the Counties of Bay, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Okaloosa,
5	Santa Rosa, Wakulla, and Walton, and the municipalities
6	within those counties, as a rural area of critical
7	economic concern for purposes of the Rural Economic
8	Development Initiative; providing that the area is a
9	priority assignment, eligible for certain waivers, and
10	exempt from specified requirements; providing for a
11	qualified target industry business that relocates all or a
12	portion of its business to the area from another state to
13	receive tax refund payments; providing appropriations;
14	providing for reserve, release, use, and reversion of
15	appropriated funds; requiring the Office of Tourism,
16	Trade, and Economic Development to contract with Florida's
17	Great Northwest, Inc., to develop and implement an
18	economic development program in the Counties of Bay,
19	Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla,
20	and Walton; providing contract requirements; providing for
21	expiration; providing an effective date.
22
23	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
24
25	Section 1.  Subsections (3) and (4) and paragraph (c) of
26	subsection (6) of section 288.0656, Florida Statutes, are
27	amended, and subsection (9) is added to that section, to read:
28	288.0656  Rural Economic Development Initiative.-
29	(3)  REDI shall be responsible for coordinating and
30	focusing the efforts and resources of state and regional
31	agencies on the problems which affect the fiscal, economic, and
32	community viability of Florida's economically distressed rural
33	communities and rural areas of critical economic concern,
34	working with local governments, community-based organizations,
35	and private organizations that have an interest in the growth
36	and development of these communities to find ways to balance
37	environmental and growth management issues with local needs.
38	(4)  REDI shall review and evaluate the impact of statutes
39	and rules on rural communities and rural areas of critical
40	economic concern and shall work to minimize any adverse impact
41	and undertake outreach and capacity-building efforts.
42	(6)
43	(c)  The REDI representatives shall work with REDI in the
44	review and evaluation of statutes and rules for adverse impact
45	on rural communities and rural areas of critical economic
46	concern and the development of alternative proposals to mitigate
47	that impact.
48	(9)(a)  For purposes of this section, the Counties of Bay,
49	Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, and
50	Walton, and the municipalities within those counties, are
51	designated as a rural area of critical economic concern.
52	(b)  The area is a priority assignment for REDI and
53	eligible for waiver of criteria, requirements, or similar
54	provisions of any economic development incentive pursuant to
55	paragraph (7)(a) and is exempt from the requirements of
56	paragraph (7)(b).
57	(c)  Between July 1, 2011, and June 29, 2014, if the Office
58	of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development determines it is in
59	the best interest of the public for reasons of facilitating
60	economic development, growth, or new employment in the area
61	designated under this subsection, the office may allow a
62	qualified target industry business that relocates all or a
63	portion of its business to the area from another state to
64	receive a tax refund payment of up to $6,000 multiplied by the
65	number of jobs specified in the tax refund agreement pursuant to
66	s. 288.106(5)(a)1. The business is eligible for an additional
67	tax refund payment pursuant to s. 288.106(3)(b)4. if the
68	business meets the criteria provided in that subparagraph. A
69	project pursuant to this paragraph must meet all of the criteria
70	provided in s. 288.106 unless such requirement is expressly
71	waived by the Governor.
72	(d)  This subsection expires on June 30, 2014.
73	Section 2.  (1)  For fiscal years 2011-2012, 2012-2013, and
74	2013-2014, the sum of $10 million per fiscal year in recurring
75	funds from the General Revenue Fund is appropriated to the
76	Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development for the
77	purpose of contracting with Florida's Great Northwest, Inc., to
78	develop and implement an innovative economic development program
79	to promote research and development, commercialization of
80	research, economic diversification, and job creation in the
81	Counties of Bay, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa,
82	Wakulla, and Walton. The funds shall be placed in reserve by the
83	Executive Office of the Governor and may be released as
84	authorized by law or the Legislative Budget Commission. The
85	funds may not be used to pay for the administrative costs of
86	Florida's Great Northwest, Inc. Any funds remaining on June 30,
87	2014, shall revert to the General Revenue Fund.
88	(2)  The contract shall, at a minimum, require Florida's
89	Great Northwest, Inc., to report quarterly to the Office of
90	Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development and to collaborate with
91	educational entities, economic development organizations, local
92	governments, and relevant state agencies to create a program
93	framework and strategy, including specific criteria for the
94	expenditure of funds. The criteria for the expenditure of funds
95	shall, at a minimum, require a funding preference for the
96	Counties of Bay, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa,
97	Wakulla, and Walton, and the municipalities within those
98	counties, which provides for expedited permitting in order to
99	promote research and development, commercialization of research,
100	economic diversification, and job creation within those
101	jurisdictions.
102	(3)  This section expires on June 30, 2014.
103	Section 3.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2011.

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