| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to convention development taxes; amending |
| 3 | s. 212.0305, F.S.; making technical and grammatical |
| 4 | changes; authorizing an increase in the rate of the |
| 5 | charter county convention development tax; specifying |
| 6 | permissible uses of the additional revenues; providing an |
| 7 | effective date. |
| 8 |
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| 9 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 10 |
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| 11 | Section 1. Subsection (3) and paragraphs (a) and (b) of |
| 12 | subsection (4) of section 212.0305, Florida Statutes, are |
| 13 | amended to read: |
| 14 | 212.0305 Convention development taxes; intent; |
| 15 | administration; authorization; use of proceeds.- |
| 16 | (3) APPLICATION; ADMINISTRATION; PENALTIES.- |
| 17 | (a)1. The convention development tax on transient rentals |
| 18 | imposed by the governing body of any county applies authorized |
| 19 | to so levy shall apply to the amount of any payment made by any |
| 20 | person to rent, lease, or use for a period of 6 months or less |
| 21 | any living quarters or accommodations in a hotel, apartment |
| 22 | hotel, motel, resort motel, apartment, apartment motel, |
| 23 | roominghouse, tourist or trailer camp, mobile home park, |
| 24 | recreational vehicle park, condominium, or timeshare resort. If |
| 25 | When receipt of consideration is by way of property other than |
| 26 | money, the tax is shall be levied and imposed on the fair market |
| 27 | value of the such nonmonetary consideration. Any payment made by |
| 28 | a person to rent, lease, or use any living quarters or |
| 29 | accommodations that which are exempt from the tax imposed under |
| 30 | s. 212.03 are shall likewise be exempt from any tax imposed |
| 31 | under this section. |
| 32 | 2.a. Tax is shall be due on the consideration paid for |
| 33 | occupancy in the county pursuant to a regulated short-term |
| 34 | product, as defined in s. 721.05, or occupancy in the county |
| 35 | pursuant to a product that would be deemed a regulated short- |
| 36 | term product if the agreement to purchase the short-term right |
| 37 | was executed in this state. The Such tax shall be collected on |
| 38 | the last day of occupancy within the county unless such |
| 39 | consideration is applied to the purchase of a timeshare estate. |
| 40 | The occupancy of an accommodation of a timeshare resort pursuant |
| 41 | to a timeshare plan, a multisite timeshare plan, or an exchange |
| 42 | transaction in an exchange program, as defined in s. 721.05, by |
| 43 | the owner of a timeshare interest or by a such owner's guest of |
| 44 | the owner who, which guest is not paying monetary consideration |
| 45 | to the owner or to a third party for the benefit of the owner, |
| 46 | is not a privilege subject to taxation under this section. A |
| 47 | membership or transaction fee paid by a timeshare owner which |
| 48 | that does not provide the timeshare owner with the right to |
| 49 | occupy any specific timeshare unit but merely provides the |
| 50 | timeshare owner with the opportunity to exchange a timeshare |
| 51 | interest through an exchange program is a service charge and is |
| 52 | not subject to taxation under this section. |
| 53 | b. Consideration paid for the purchase of a timeshare |
| 54 | license in a timeshare plan, as defined in s. 721.05, is rent |
| 55 | subject to taxation under this section. |
| 56 | (b) The tax shall be charged by the person receiving the |
| 57 | consideration for the lease or rental, and the tax, shall charge |
| 58 | the tax and collect the tax be collected from the lessee, |
| 59 | tenant, or customer at the time of payment of the consideration |
| 60 | for the such lease or rental. |
| 61 | (c) The person receiving the consideration for such rental |
| 62 | or lease shall receive, account for, and remit the tax to the |
| 63 | department at the time and in the manner provided for persons |
| 64 | who collect and remit taxes pursuant to under s. 212.03. The |
| 65 | same duties and privileges imposed by this chapter upon dealers |
| 66 | in tangible property respecting the collection and remission of |
| 67 | tax; the making of returns; the keeping of books, records, and |
| 68 | accounts; and compliance with the rules of the department in the |
| 69 | administration of this chapter apply to and are binding upon all |
| 70 | persons who are subject to the provisions of this section. |
| 71 | However, the department may authorize a quarterly return and |
| 72 | payment if when the tax remitted by the dealer for the preceding |
| 73 | quarter did not exceed $25. |
| 74 | (d) The department shall keep records showing the amount |
| 75 | of taxes collected, including records of which records shall |
| 76 | disclose the taxes collected from each county in which a local |
| 77 | government resort tax is levied. These records are shall be |
| 78 | subject to the provisions of s. 213.053 and are confidential and |
| 79 | exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1). |
| 80 | (e) The collections received by the department shall pay |
| 81 | and return the collections of the tax from the tax, less its |
| 82 | costs of administration, shall be paid and returned monthly to |
| 83 | the county that which imposed the tax, for use by the county as |
| 84 | provided in this section. A county shall place the Such receipts |
| 85 | from the tax shall be placed in a specific trust fund or funds |
| 86 | created by the county. |
| 87 | (f) The department shall adopt promulgate such rules and |
| 88 | shall prescribe and publish such forms as may be necessary to |
| 89 | administer effectuate the purposes of this section. The |
| 90 | department may is authorized to establish audit procedures and |
| 91 | to assess for delinquent taxes. |
| 92 | (g) The estimated tax provisions contained in s. 212.11 do |
| 93 | not apply to the administration of any tax levied under this |
| 94 | section. |
| 95 | (h) Any person taxable under this section who, either by |
| 96 | himself or herself or through the person's agents or employees, |
| 97 | fails or refuses to charge and collect the taxes provided in |
| 98 | this section herein provided from the person paying any rental |
| 99 | or lease is, in addition to being personally liable for the |
| 100 | payment of the tax and commits, guilty of a misdemeanor of the |
| 101 | first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. |
| 102 | 775.083. |
| 103 | (i) A No person may not shall advertise or hold out to the |
| 104 | public in any manner, directly or indirectly, that he or she |
| 105 | will absorb all or any part of the tax; that he or she will |
| 106 | relieve the person paying the rental of the payment of all or |
| 107 | any part of the tax; or that the tax will not be added to the |
| 108 | rental or lease consideration or, if added, that the tax or any |
| 109 | part of the tax thereof will be refunded or refused, either |
| 110 | directly or indirectly, by any method whatsoever. Any person who |
| 111 | willfully violates any provision of this paragraph commits is |
| 112 | guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as |
| 113 | provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. |
| 114 | (j) The tax constitutes shall constitute a lien on the |
| 115 | property of the lessee, customer, or tenant in the same manner |
| 116 | as, and is shall be collectible as are, liens authorized and |
| 117 | imposed by ss. 713.67, 713.68, and 713.69. |
| 118 | (k) Any tax levied pursuant to this section is shall be in |
| 119 | addition to any other tax imposed under pursuant to this chapter |
| 120 | and is in addition to all other taxes and fees and the |
| 121 | consideration for the rental or lease. |
| 122 | (l) The department shall administer the taxes levied under |
| 123 | this section herein as increases in the rate of the tax |
| 124 | authorized in s. 125.0104. The department shall collect and |
| 125 | enforce the provisions of this section and s. 125.0104 in |
| 126 | conjunction with each other in those counties authorized to levy |
| 127 | the taxes authorized in this section herein. The department |
| 128 | shall distribute the proceeds received from the taxes levied |
| 129 | under pursuant to this section and s. 125.0104 in proportion to |
| 130 | the rates of the taxes authorized to the appropriate trust funds |
| 131 | as provided by law. If the department receives an In the event |
| 132 | of underpayment of the total amount due by a taxpayer pursuant |
| 133 | to this section and s. 125.0104, the department must shall |
| 134 | distribute the amount received in proportion to the rates of the |
| 135 | taxes authorized to the appropriate trust funds as provided by |
| 136 | law and the penalties and interest due on both of the said taxes |
| 137 | apply shall be applicable. |
| 138 | (4) AUTHORIZATION TO LEVY; USE OF PROCEEDS; OTHER |
| 139 | REQUIREMENTS.- |
| 140 | (a) Consolidated government levy for convention |
| 141 | development.- |
| 142 | 1. Each county that operates under a government |
| 143 | consolidated with that of one or more municipalities in the |
| 144 | county may impose, pursuant to an ordinance enacted by the |
| 145 | governing body of the county, a levy on the exercise within its |
| 146 | boundaries of the taxable privilege of leasing or letting |
| 147 | transient rental accommodations described in subsection (3) at |
| 148 | the rate of 2 percent of each dollar and major fraction of each |
| 149 | dollar of the total consideration charged for the privilege |
| 150 | therefor. The proceeds of this levy shall be known as the |
| 151 | consolidated county convention development tax. |
| 152 | 2. The county shall furnish to the department, within 10 |
| 153 | days after approval of the ordinance imposing the levy, a copy |
| 154 | of the ordinance. The effective date of imposition of the levy |
| 155 | must be the first day of any month that is at least 60 days |
| 156 | after enactment of the ordinance. |
| 157 | 3. All consolidated county convention development moneys, |
| 158 | including any interest accrued on the moneys thereon, received |
| 159 | by a county imposing the levy may must be used only as follows |
| 160 | in any of the following manners, although the utilization |
| 161 | authorized in sub-subparagraph a. shall apply only to |
| 162 | municipalities with a population of 10,000 or more: |
| 163 | a. To promote and advertise tourism by a municipality |
| 164 | having a population of 10,000 or more; |
| 165 | b. To extend, enlarge, and improve existing publicly owned |
| 166 | convention centers in the county; |
| 167 | c. To construct a multipurpose |
| 168 | convention/coliseum/exhibition center or the maximum components |
| 169 | of a multipurpose center thereof as funds permit in the county; |
| 170 | and |
| 171 | d. To acquire, construct, extend, enlarge, remodel, |
| 172 | repair, improve, or maintain one or more convention centers, |
| 173 | stadiums, exhibition halls, arenas, coliseums, or auditoriums. |
| 174 | 4. For the purposes of completion of any project under |
| 175 | this paragraph, tax revenues and interest accrued may be used: |
| 176 | a. As collateral, pledged, or hypothecated for projects |
| 177 | authorized by this paragraph, including bonds issued in |
| 178 | connection with a project therewith; or |
| 179 | b. As a pledge or capital contribution in conjunction with |
| 180 | a partnership, joint venture, or other business arrangement |
| 181 | between the county and one or more business entities for |
| 182 | projects authorized by this paragraph. |
| 183 | 5.a. The county may designate or appoint an authority to |
| 184 | administer and disburse such proceeds and any other related |
| 185 | source of revenue. However, the annual budget of the authority |
| 186 | must be is subject to approval of the governing body of the |
| 187 | county. |
| 188 | b. Except as otherwise provided by law, one-half of the |
| 189 | proceeds of the tax which are collected within a municipality |
| 190 | the government of which is not consolidated with that of the |
| 191 | county must, at the request of the governing body of the |
| 192 | municipality, be remitted to the municipality. The revenue |
| 193 | remitted to a municipality under this sub-subparagraph may be |
| 194 | used by the municipality only for the purposes and in the manner |
| 195 | authorized in this paragraph, but the municipality may enter |
| 196 | into an interlocal agreement with the county or with any other |
| 197 | municipality in the county to use the such revenue to jointly |
| 198 | finance any project authorized by this paragraph. This sub- |
| 199 | subparagraph does not apply to the distribution to the county of |
| 200 | any convention development tax revenues necessary to repay the |
| 201 | principal of or the interest on any bonds issued under sub- |
| 202 | subparagraph 4.a. before May 29, 1984. Notwithstanding this sub- |
| 203 | subparagraph, if the governing body of such a municipality |
| 204 | adopts a resolution stating that the municipality is unable to |
| 205 | use such revenue for any purpose authorized in this paragraph, |
| 206 | the municipality may use the revenue to acquire and develop |
| 207 | municipal parks, lifeguard stations, or athletic fields. |
| 208 | 6. The consolidated county convention development tax is |
| 209 | shall be in addition to any other levy imposed under this |
| 210 | section. |
| 211 | 7. Revenues collected and returned to the county must be |
| 212 | deposited in a convention development trust fund, which must be |
| 213 | established by the county as a condition precedent to receipt of |
| 214 | such funds. |
| 215 | (b) Charter county levy for convention development.- |
| 216 | 1. Each county, as defined in s. 125.011(1), may impose, |
| 217 | under an ordinance enacted by the governing body of the county, |
| 218 | a levy on the exercise within its boundaries of the taxable |
| 219 | privilege of leasing or letting transient rental accommodations |
| 220 | described in subsection (3) at the rate of 3 percent or 4 |
| 221 | percent of the total consideration charged for the privilege |
| 222 | therefor. The proceeds of this levy shall be known as the |
| 223 | charter county convention development tax. |
| 224 | 2. All charter county convention development moneys, |
| 225 | including any interest accrued thereon, received by a county |
| 226 | imposing the levy shall be used as follows: |
| 227 | a. One-half of the proceeds of a 4 percent levy or two- |
| 228 | thirds of the proceeds of a 3 percent levy shall be used to |
| 229 | extend, enlarge, expand, and improve the largest existing |
| 230 | publicly owned convention center in the county. |
| 231 | b. One-fourth of the proceeds of 4 percent levy or one- |
| 232 | third of the proceeds of a 3 percent levy shall be used to |
| 233 | construct a new multipurpose convention/coliseum/exhibition |
| 234 | center/stadium or the maximum components thereof as funds permit |
| 235 | in the most populous municipality in the county. |
| 236 | c. One-fourth of the proceeds of a 4 percent levy shall be |
| 237 | used solely to extend, enlarge, remodel, repair, improve, plan |
| 238 | for, operate, manage, or maintain the largest existing publicly |
| 239 | owned convention center in the county, including the pledge of |
| 240 | the proceeds as security for the payment of bonds or other |
| 241 | obligations issued in connection with such convention center |
| 242 | projects. Notwithstanding sub-subparagraph f., these proceeds |
| 243 | may not be used to pay debt service or other obligations on |
| 244 | bonds payable from the proceeds that must be used for the |
| 245 | purposes in sub-subparagraphs a. and b. |
| 246 | d.c. After the completion of any project under sub- |
| 247 | subparagraph a., the tax revenues and interest accrued under |
| 248 | sub-subparagraph a. may be used to acquire, construct, extend, |
| 249 | enlarge, remodel, repair, improve, expand, plan for, operate, |
| 250 | manage, or maintain one or more nonprofit publicly owned or |
| 251 | operated convention centers, stadiums, exhibition halls, arenas, |
| 252 | coliseums, auditoriums, or golf courses, and may be used to |
| 253 | acquire and construct an intercity light rail transportation |
| 254 | system as described in the Light Rail Transit System Status |
| 255 | Report to the Legislature dated April 1988. The transit system |
| 256 | must, which shall provide a means to transport persons to and |
| 257 | from the largest existing publicly owned convention center in |
| 258 | the county and the hotels north of the convention center and to |
| 259 | and from the downtown area of the most populous municipality in |
| 260 | the county as determined by the county. |
| 261 | e.d. After completion of any project under sub- |
| 262 | subparagraph b., the tax revenues and interest accrued under |
| 263 | sub-subparagraph b. may be used, as determined by the county, to |
| 264 | operate an authority created pursuant to subparagraph 4. or to |
| 265 | acquire, construct, extend, enlarge, remodel, repair, improve, |
| 266 | operate, or maintain one or more convention centers, stadiums, |
| 267 | exhibition halls, arenas, coliseums, auditoriums, golf courses, |
| 268 | or related buildings and parking facilities in the most populous |
| 269 | municipality in the county. |
| 270 | f.e. For the purposes of completion of any project |
| 271 | pursuant to this paragraph, tax revenues and interest accrued |
| 272 | may be used: |
| 273 | (I) As collateral, pledged, or hypothecated for projects |
| 274 | authorized by this paragraph, including bonds issued in |
| 275 | connection with a project therewith; or |
| 276 | (II) As a pledge or capital contribution in conjunction |
| 277 | with a partnership, joint venture, or other business arrangement |
| 278 | between a municipality and one or more business entities for |
| 279 | projects authorized by this paragraph. |
| 280 | 3. The governing body of each municipality in which a |
| 281 | municipal tourist tax is levied may adopt a resolution |
| 282 | prohibiting imposition of the charter county convention |
| 283 | development levy within the such municipality. If the governing |
| 284 | body adopts such a resolution, the convention development levy |
| 285 | shall be imposed by the county in all other areas of the county |
| 286 | except the such municipality. Revenues from a charter county |
| 287 | convention development levy No funds collected pursuant to this |
| 288 | paragraph may not be expended in a municipality that which has |
| 289 | prohibited the imposition of the tax adopted such a resolution. |
| 290 | 4.a. Before the county enacts an ordinance imposing or |
| 291 | increasing the levy, the county shall notify the governing body |
| 292 | of each municipality in which projects are to be developed |
| 293 | pursuant to sub-subparagraph 2.a., sub-subparagraph 2.b., sub- |
| 294 | subparagraph 2.c., or sub-subparagraph 2.d, or sub-subparagraph |
| 295 | 2.e. As a condition precedent to receiving funding, the |
| 296 | governing bodies of the such municipalities shall designate or |
| 297 | appoint an authority having that shall have the sole power to: |
| 298 | (I) Approve the concept, location, program, and design of |
| 299 | the facilities or improvements to be built in accordance with |
| 300 | this paragraph and to administer and disburse such proceeds and |
| 301 | any other related source of revenue. |
| 302 | (II) Appoint and dismiss the authority's executive |
| 303 | director, general counsel, and any other consultants retained by |
| 304 | the authority. The governing body may shall have the right to |
| 305 | approve or disapprove the initial appointment of the authority's |
| 306 | executive director and general counsel. |
| 307 | b. The members of each such authority shall be appointed |
| 308 | by the governing body of the municipality to terms serve for a |
| 309 | term of at least not less than 1 year and shall be appointed by |
| 310 | the governing body of such municipality. The annual budget of |
| 311 | the such authority is shall be subject to the approval of the |
| 312 | governing body of the municipality. If the governing body does |
| 313 | not approve the budget, the authority shall use as the |
| 314 | authority's budget the previous fiscal year budget from the |
| 315 | previous fiscal year. |
| 316 | c. The authority, by resolution to be adopted from time to |
| 317 | time, may invest and reinvest the proceeds from the convention |
| 318 | development tax and any other revenues generated by the |
| 319 | authority in the same manner that the municipality in which the |
| 320 | authority is located may invest surplus funds. |
| 321 | 5. The charter county convention development levy is shall |
| 322 | be in addition to any other levy imposed pursuant to this |
| 323 | section. |
| 324 | 6. A certified copy of the ordinance imposing the levy |
| 325 | shall be furnished by the county to the department within 10 |
| 326 | days after approval of such ordinance. The effective date of |
| 327 | imposition of the levy is shall be the first day of any month at |
| 328 | least 60 days after enactment of the ordinance. |
| 329 | 7. Revenues collected pursuant to this paragraph must |
| 330 | shall be deposited in a convention development trust fund, which |
| 331 | shall be established by the county as a condition precedent to |
| 332 | receipt of the such funds. |
| 333 | Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2011. |