Florida Senate - 2013                                    SB 1156
       
       
       
       By Senator Altman
       
       
       
       
       16-00568-13                                           20131156__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to space exploration; creating part
    3         XIII of ch. 288, F.S., entitled “Space Exploration
    4         Research Laboratory”; creating s. 288.9933, F.S.;
    5         requiring the Florida Institute of Technology to
    6         submit a plan to the Department of Economic
    7         Opportunity in order to qualify for grant funding of a
    8         space exploration research laboratory; requiring
    9         certain information to be included in the plan;
   10         requiring the institute to annually submit a report
   11         relating to expenditures and accomplishments of the
   12         space exploration research laboratory; specifying
   13         information for inclusion in the annual report;
   14         requiring the institute to enter into a contract
   15         containing certain terms with the Department of
   16         Economic Opportunity; providing for funding to cease
   17         under certain circumstances; requiring the Department
   18         of Economic Opportunity to make annual reviews and
   19         recommendations concerning whether to continue funding
   20         the space exploration research laboratory; providing
   21         for funding to cease under certain circumstances;
   22         amending s. 212.20, F.S.; directing the Department of
   23         Revenue, after notice by the Department of Economic
   24         Opportunity that certain contingencies have been met,
   25         to annually distribute for a certain number of years a
   26         specified amount of funds generated by visitor
   27         activity at the Kennedy Space Center and Cape
   28         Canaveral Air Force Station for the purpose of
   29         establishing and operating a space exploration
   30         research institute at the Florida Institute of
   31         Technology; providing an effective date.
   32  
   33  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   34  
   35         Section 1. Part XIII of chapter 288, Florida Statutes,
   36  consisting of section 288.9933, Florida Statutes, is created and
   37  entitled “Space Exploration Research Laboratory.”
   38  
   39                              PART XIII                            
   40                SPACE EXPLORATION RESEARCH LABORATORY              
   41  
   42         288.9933 Space exploration research laboratory at the
   43  Florida Institute of Technology.—
   44         (1) The Florida Institute of Technology shall submit a plan
   45  for establishing and operating a space exploration research
   46  laboratory to the Department of Economic Opportunity, to qualify
   47  to receive the grant funds available in accordance with s.
   48  212.20(6). At a minimum, the plan must include the following:
   49         (a) Enrollment and graduation expectations for
   50  baccalaureate, masters, and doctorate programs related to space
   51  exploration and science, technology, engineering, and
   52  mathematics (STEM) disciplines for each of the next succeeding
   53  10 years.
   54         (b) The number of new faculty and the average salary of
   55  newly hired faculty expected for each of the next 10 years.
   56         (c) The number of faculty with a National Academy
   57  membership who are expected to be associated with the institute.
   58         (d) A strategy for securing private and federal research
   59  funds.
   60         (2) By February 1 of each year, the institute must submit a
   61  report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker
   62  of the House of Representatives, and the Department of Economic
   63  Opportunity providing details of the expenditures and
   64  accomplishments of the space exploration research laboratory,
   65  including the following:
   66         (a) The number of students enrolled and the number of
   67  students who have graduated with baccalaureate, masters, and
   68  doctorate degrees related to space exploration and science,
   69  technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines over
   70  the previous year and the number of students who have graduated
   71  with such degrees since the inception of the research
   72  laboratory.
   73         (b) The number and qualifications of newly hired faculty
   74  for the research laboratory, specifying the number of faculty
   75  with a National Academy membership and any other prestigious
   76  faculty awards.
   77         (c) The amount and type of private and federal research
   78  funds secured during the previous year.
   79         (d) Total research expenditures in space exploration.
   80         (e) The number of new start-up companies formed.
   81         (f) The number of patents and licenses issued.
   82         (g) The amount of royalty income generated.
   83         (3) The institute must enter into a contract with the
   84  Department of Economic Opportunity agreeing to create a world
   85  class space exploration research laboratory that generates at
   86  least $20 million annually in nonstate revenue by the end of the
   87  research laboratory’s 10th year of operation. If the minimum
   88  standard of $20 million annually is not met within 10 years
   89  after the first grant distribution, the Department of Economic
   90  Opportunity must so certify to the Department of Revenue and the
   91  distribution provided under s. 212.20(6)(d)6.e., shall cease on
   92  June 30th following the submission of the report required under
   93  subsection (2).
   94         (4) The Department of Economic Opportunity must review the
   95  annual report required under subsection (2) and make an annual
   96  recommendation to continue funding for the space exploration
   97  research laboratory certifying to the Governor, the Speaker of
   98  the House of Representatives, and the President of the Senate
   99  that the laboratory is making substantial progress in
  100  establishing and maintaining a world class space exploration
  101  laboratory at the institute. If the department determines that
  102  the institute is not making substantial progress in establishing
  103  and maintaining a world class space exploration research
  104  laboratory, the department shall so certify to the Department of
  105  Revenue and the distribution provided in s. 212.20(6)(d)6.e.,
  106  shall cease on June 30th following the date of submission of the
  107  report required under subsection (2).
  108         Section 2. Paragraph (d) of subsection (6) of section
  109  212.20, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  110         212.20 Funds collected, disposition; additional powers of
  111  department; operational expense; refund of taxes adjudicated
  112  unconstitutionally collected.—
  113         (6) Distribution of all proceeds under this chapter and s.
  114  202.18(1)(b) and (2)(b) shall be as follows:
  115         (d) The proceeds of all other taxes and fees imposed
  116  pursuant to this chapter or remitted pursuant to s. 202.18(1)(b)
  117  and (2)(b) shall be distributed as follows:
  118         1. In any fiscal year, the greater of $500 million, minus
  119  an amount equal to 4.6 percent of the proceeds of the taxes
  120  collected pursuant to chapter 201, or 5.2 percent of all other
  121  taxes and fees imposed pursuant to this chapter or remitted
  122  pursuant to s. 202.18(1)(b) and (2)(b) shall be deposited in
  123  monthly installments into the General Revenue Fund.
  124         2. After the distribution under subparagraph 1., 8.814
  125  percent of the amount remitted by a sales tax dealer located
  126  within a participating county pursuant to s. 218.61 shall be
  127  transferred into the Local Government Half-cent Sales Tax
  128  Clearing Trust Fund. Beginning July 1, 2003, the amount to be
  129  transferred shall be reduced by 0.1 percent, and the department
  130  shall distribute this amount to the Public Employees Relations
  131  Commission Trust Fund less $5,000 each month, which shall be
  132  added to the amount calculated in subparagraph 3. and
  133  distributed accordingly.
  134         3. After the distribution under subparagraphs 1. and 2.,
  135  0.095 percent shall be transferred to the Local Government Half
  136  cent Sales Tax Clearing Trust Fund and distributed pursuant to
  137  s. 218.65.
  138         4. After the distributions under subparagraphs 1., 2., and
  139  3., 2.0440 percent of the available proceeds shall be
  140  transferred monthly to the Revenue Sharing Trust Fund for
  141  Counties pursuant to s. 218.215.
  142         5. After the distributions under subparagraphs 1., 2., and
  143  3., 1.3409 percent of the available proceeds shall be
  144  transferred monthly to the Revenue Sharing Trust Fund for
  145  Municipalities pursuant to s. 218.215. If the total revenue to
  146  be distributed pursuant to this subparagraph is at least as
  147  great as the amount due from the Revenue Sharing Trust Fund for
  148  Municipalities and the former Municipal Financial Assistance
  149  Trust Fund in state fiscal year 1999-2000, no municipality shall
  150  receive less than the amount due from the Revenue Sharing Trust
  151  Fund for Municipalities and the former Municipal Financial
  152  Assistance Trust Fund in state fiscal year 1999-2000. If the
  153  total proceeds to be distributed are less than the amount
  154  received in combination from the Revenue Sharing Trust Fund for
  155  Municipalities and the former Municipal Financial Assistance
  156  Trust Fund in state fiscal year 1999-2000, each municipality
  157  shall receive an amount proportionate to the amount it was due
  158  in state fiscal year 1999-2000.
  159         6. Of the remaining proceeds:
  160         a. In each fiscal year, the sum of $29,915,500 shall be
  161  divided into as many equal parts as there are counties in the
  162  state, and one part shall be distributed to each county. The
  163  distribution among the several counties must begin each fiscal
  164  year on or before January 5th and continue monthly for a total
  165  of 4 months. If a local or special law required that any moneys
  166  accruing to a county in fiscal year 1999-2000 under the then
  167  existing provisions of s. 550.135 be paid directly to the
  168  district school board, special district, or a municipal
  169  government, such payment must continue until the local or
  170  special law is amended or repealed. The state covenants with
  171  holders of bonds or other instruments of indebtedness issued by
  172  local governments, special districts, or district school boards
  173  before July 1, 2000, that it is not the intent of this
  174  subparagraph to adversely affect the rights of those holders or
  175  relieve local governments, special districts, or district school
  176  boards of the duty to meet their obligations as a result of
  177  previous pledges or assignments or trusts entered into which
  178  obligated funds received from the distribution to county
  179  governments under then-existing s. 550.135. This distribution
  180  specifically is in lieu of funds distributed under s. 550.135
  181  before July 1, 2000.
  182         b. The department shall distribute $166,667 monthly
  183  pursuant to s. 288.1162 to each applicant certified as a
  184  facility for a new or retained professional sports franchise
  185  pursuant to s. 288.1162. Up to $41,667 shall be distributed
  186  monthly by the department to each certified applicant as defined
  187  in s. 288.11621 for a facility for a spring training franchise.
  188  However, not more than $416,670 may be distributed monthly in
  189  the aggregate to all certified applicants for facilities for
  190  spring training franchises. Distributions begin 60 days after
  191  such certification and continue for not more than 30 years,
  192  except as otherwise provided in s. 288.11621. A certified
  193  applicant identified in this sub-subparagraph may not receive
  194  more in distributions than expended by the applicant for the
  195  public purposes provided for in s. 288.1162(5) or s.
  196  288.11621(3).
  197         c. Beginning 30 days after notice by the Department of
  198  Economic Opportunity to the Department of Revenue that an
  199  applicant has been certified as the professional golf hall of
  200  fame pursuant to s. 288.1168 and is open to the public, $166,667
  201  shall be distributed monthly, for up to 300 months, to the
  202  applicant.
  203         d. Beginning 30 days after notice by the Department of
  204  Economic Opportunity to the Department of Revenue that the
  205  applicant has been certified as the International Game Fish
  206  Association World Center facility pursuant to s. 288.1169, and
  207  the facility is open to the public, $83,333 shall be distributed
  208  monthly, for up to 168 months, to the applicant. This
  209  distribution is subject to reduction pursuant to s. 288.1169. A
  210  lump sum payment of $999,996 shall be made, after certification
  211  and before July 1, 2000.
  212         e. After notice by the Department of Economic Opportunity
  213  to the Department of Revenue that the Department of Economic
  214  Opportunity has approved a plan developed by the Florida
  215  Institute of Technology pursuant to s. 288.9933 for establishing
  216  a space exploration research laboratory, the department shall
  217  distribute $5 million annually to the Florida Institute of
  218  Technology for establishing and operating a space exploration
  219  research laboratory. This amount represents sales and use taxes
  220  generated by visitor activity at the Kennedy Space Center and
  221  the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The department must make
  222  the distribution 60 days after such certification and continue
  223  to make an annual distribution of the same amount on the
  224  anniversary date of the initial distribution for 10 additional
  225  years.
  226         7. All other proceeds must remain in the General Revenue
  227  Fund.
  228         Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2013.