CS/CS/CS/HB 1309

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to economic recovery from the Deepwater
3	Horizon disaster; creating s. 288.1062, F.S.; defining the
4	term "disproportionally affected county"; providing
5	conditions under which the Governor and the Office of
6	Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development may waive
7	specified job, wage, and local financial support
8	eligibility requirements for certain projects; providing a
9	limitation; providing for a qualified target industry
10	business that relocates from another state to a
11	disproportionally affected county to receive certain tax
12	refund payments; providing for expiration of the section;
13	providing an appropriation; requiring the Office of
14	Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development to consult with
15	certain entities to create a framework and strategy for
16	the use of the funds to promote research and development,
17	commercialization of research, economic diversification,
18	and job creation in the Counties of Bay, Escambia,
19	Franklin, Gulf, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, and Walton;
20	providing criteria for such use; directing the Board of
21	Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund to provide
22	specified recommendations to the Legislature; providing an
23	effective date.
24
25	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
26
27	Section 1.  Section 288.1062, Florida Statutes, is created
28	to read:
29	288.1062  Special incentives for disproportionally affected
30	counties.-
31	(1)  For purposes of this section, the term
32	"disproportionally affected county" means Bay County, Escambia
33	County, Franklin County, Gulf County, Okaloosa County, Santa
34	Rosa County, Wakulla County, or Walton County.
35	(2)(a)  Between July 1, 2011, and June 30, 2014, if the
36	Governor determines it is in the best interest of the public for
37	reasons of facilitating economic development, growth, or new
38	employment opportunities within a disproportionally affected
39	county:
40	1.  The Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development
41	may waive any or all job or wage eligibility requirements under
42	s. 288.063, s. 288.065, s. 288.0655, s. 288.0657, s. 288.0659,
43	s. 288.107, s. 288.108, s. 288.1081, s. 288.1088, or s. 288.1089
44	up to the cumulative amount of $5 million of all state
45	incentives received per project. Before granting the waiver, the
46	director of the office shall file with the Governor a written
47	statement of the conditions and circumstances constituting the
48	reason for the waiver.
49	2.  The Governor may waive any or all job or wage
50	eligibility requirements under s. 288.063, s. 288.065, s.
51	288.0655, s. 288.0657, s. 288.0659, s. 288.107, s. 288.108, s.
52	288.1081, s. 288.1088, or s. 288.1089 for cumulative amounts in
53	excess of $5 million but less than $10 million of all state
54	incentives received per project. Before granting the waiver, the
55	Governor shall provide written notice of the action at least 5
56	business days before the effective date to the chair and vice
57	chair of the Legislative Budget Commission. If the chair or vice
58	chair of the Legislative Budget Commission advises the Governor
59	in writing within 5 business days before the effective date that
60	the action exceeds the delegated authority of the Governor or is
61	contrary to legislative policy or intent, the Governor shall
62	void the action.
63	(b)  Neither the Governor nor the Office of Tourism, Trade,
64	and Economic Development may waive job and wage eligibility
65	requirements under s. 288.063, s. 288.065, s. 288.0655, s.
66	288.0657, s. 288.0659, s. 288.107, s. 288.108, s. 288.1081, s.
67	288.1088, or s. 288.1089 for cumulative amounts of $10 million
68	or more of all state incentives received per project.
69	(3)  Between July 1, 2011, and June 30, 2014, if the
70	Governor determines it is in the best interest of the public for
71	reasons of facilitating economic development, growth, or new
72	employment opportunities within a disproportionally affected
73	county, the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development
74	may waive any or all wage or local financial support eligibility
75	requirements and allow a qualified target industry business from
76	another state which locates all or a portion of its business to
77	a disproportionally affected county to receive a tax refund
78	payment of up to $6,000 multiplied by the number of jobs
79	specified in the tax refund agreement under s. 288.106(5)(a)1.
80	over the term of the agreement. Before granting the waiver, the
81	director of the office shall file with the Governor a written
82	statement of the conditions and circumstances constituting the
83	reason for the waiver. The business is eligible for an
84	additional tax refund payment under s. 288.106(3)(b)4. if the
85	business meets the criteria provided in that subparagraph.
86	(4)  This section expires July 1, 2014.
87	Section 2.  (1)  For fiscal year 2011-2012, the sum of $10
88	million in nonrecurring funds from the General Revenue Fund is
89	appropriated to the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic
90	Development to assist in diversifying the regional economy for
91	the Counties of Bay, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Okaloosa, Santa
92	Rosa, Wakulla, and Walton. The funds may be used to recruit or
93	expand targeted industries or businesses in the region, promote
94	research and development, promote commercialization of research,
95	support job creation, and provide funding for matching grant
96	opportunities with federal and private grants. The funds may not
97	be used to pay for administrative costs.
98	(2)  The Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development
99	shall consult with local educational entities, economic
100	development organizations, local governments, and Florida's
101	Great Northwest, Inc., to create a framework and strategy for
102	the use of funds appropriated under subsection (1) and shall
103	consider local support from these entities before approving any
104	project. In order to promote research and development,
105	commercialization of research, economic diversification, and job
106	creation in the Counties of Bay, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf,
107	Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, and Walton, the criteria for the
108	use of such funds shall, at a minimum, require local match, job
109	creation, return on investment, or capital investment, and shall
110	require expedited permitting when appropriate and possible by
111	the local governments required to issue permits. Funds may be
112	used, on a case-by-case basis, for:
113	(a)  Universities and other institutions to conduct
114	research for existing and prospective businesses, particularly
115	in the disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and
116	mathematics, and to provide funding for the commercialization of
117	research that will result in the creation of new jobs.
118	(b)  Direct recruiting of new businesses to Northwest
119	Florida, including prospect visits, the development of economic
120	development information and materials needed to compete with
121	other states, and events that showcase the region to prospective
122	industry sectors.
123	(c)  Supplementing existing state and local incentives for
124	the direct recruitment and expansion of companies in Northwest
125	Florida, including funding for bridging the gap between
126	incentives available in this state and incentives available in
127	competing jurisdictions.
128	(d)  Matching grant opportunities for job creation, job
129	training, or university research needed to develop new products.
130	Section 3.  No later than February 1, 2013, the Board of
131	Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund shall provide
132	recommendations to the Legislature as to whether any existing
133	multistate compact for mutual aid should be modified or whether
134	the state should enter into a new multistate compact to address
135	the impacts of the Deepwater Horizon disaster or potentially
136	similar future incidents.
137	Section 4.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2011.

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