Florida Senate - 2015 SB 198 By Senator Altman 16-00283-15 2015198__ 1 A bill to be entitled 2 An act relating to the local government infrastructure 3 surtax; amending s. 212.055, F.S.; authorizing a 4 county governing authority to levy a discretionary 5 sales surtax to fund capital restoration of natural 6 water bodies for public use; limiting expenditures of 7 the proceeds and interest from the surtax or specified 8 bonds pledging the surtax to dredging operations 9 related to ecologically beneficial muck removal; 10 reenacting ss. 202.19(5) and (8), 202.20(3), 11 212.054(1), (2)(a), and (4)(a) and (b), 212.0597, 12 212.20(6)(b), and 1013.736(2)(b), F.S., to incorporate 13 the amendments made to s. 212.055, F.S., in references 14 thereto; providing an effective date. 15 16 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 17 18 Section 1. Present paragraph (h) of subsection (2) of 19 section 212.055, Florida Statutes, is redesignated as paragraph 20 (i), and a new paragraph (h) is added to that subsection, to 21 read: 22 212.055 Discretionary sales surtaxes; legislative intent; 23 authorization and use of proceeds.—It is the legislative intent 24 that any authorization for imposition of a discretionary sales 25 surtax shall be published in the Florida Statutes as a 26 subsection of this section, irrespective of the duration of the 27 levy. Each enactment shall specify the types of counties 28 authorized to levy; the rate or rates which may be imposed; the 29 maximum length of time the surtax may be imposed, if any; the 30 procedure which must be followed to secure voter approval, if 31 required; the purpose for which the proceeds may be expended; 32 and such other requirements as the Legislature may provide. 33 Taxable transactions and administrative procedures shall be as 34 provided in s. 212.054. 35 (2) LOCAL GOVERNMENT INFRASTRUCTURE SURTAX.— 36 (h) Notwithstanding paragraphs (c) and (d), the governing 37 authority in each county may levy a discretionary sales surtax 38 of 0.5 percent or 1 percent pursuant to paragraphs (a) and (b) 39 for the purpose of funding capital restoration of natural water 40 bodies for public use, including tributaries, canals, stormwater 41 conveyance systems, and channels connected to such natural water 42 bodies. The proceeds and interest from the surtax, or from the 43 bonds pledging the surtax for such use, may be expended only for 44 dredging operations related to ecologically beneficial muck 45 removal. 46 Section 2. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment 47 made by this act to section 212.055(2), Florida Statutes, in 48 references thereto, subsections (5) and (8) of section 202.19, 49 Florida Statutes, are reenacted to read: 50 202.19 Authorization to impose local communications 51 services tax.— 52 (5) In addition to the communications services taxes 53 authorized by subsection (1), a discretionary sales surtax that 54 a county or school board has levied under s. 212.055 is imposed 55 as a local communications services tax under this section, and 56 the rate shall be determined in accordance with s. 202.20(3). 57 (a) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, each 58 such tax rate shall be applied, in addition to the other tax 59 rates applied under this chapter, to communications services 60 subject to tax under s. 202.12 which: 61 1. Originate or terminate in this state; and 62 2. Are charged to a service address in the county. 63 (b) With respect to private communications services, the 64 tax shall be on the sales price of such services provided within 65 the county, which shall be determined in accordance with the 66 following provisions: 67 1. Any charge with respect to a channel termination point 68 located within such county; 69 2. Any charge for the use of a channel between two channel 70 termination points located in such county; and 71 3. Where channel termination points are located both within 72 and outside of such county: 73 a. If any segment between two such channel termination 74 points is separately billed, 50 percent of such charge; and 75 b. If any segment of the circuit is not separately billed, 76 an amount equal to the total charge for such circuit multiplied 77 by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of channel 78 termination points within such county and the denominator of 79 which is the total number of channel termination points of the 80 circuit. 81 (8) The revenues raised by any tax imposed under subsection 82 (1) or s. 202.20(1), or distributed to a local government 83 pursuant to s. 202.18, may be used by a municipality or county 84 for any public purpose, including, but not limited to, pledging 85 such revenues for the repayment of current or future bonded 86 indebtedness. Revenues raised by a tax imposed under subsection 87 (5) shall be used for the same purposes as the underlying 88 discretionary sales surtax imposed by the county or school board 89 under s. 212.055. 90 Section 3. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment 91 made by this act to section 212.055(2), Florida Statutes, in a 92 reference thereto, subsection (3) of section 202.20, Florida 93 Statutes, is reenacted to read: 94 202.20 Local communications services tax conversion rates.— 95 (3) For any county or school board that levies a 96 discretionary surtax under s. 212.055, the rate of such tax on 97 communications services as authorized by s. 202.19(5) shall be 98 as follows: 99 100 County .5% Discretionary surtax conversion rates1% Discretionary surtax conversion rates1.5% Discretionary surtax conversion rates 101 102 Alachua 0.3% 0.6% 0.8% 103 Baker 0.3% 0.5% 0.8% 104 Bay 0.3% 0.5% 0.8% 105 Bradford 0.3% 0.6% 0.8% 106 Brevard 0.3% 0.6% 0.9% 107 Broward 0.3% 0.5% 0.8% 108 Calhoun 0.3% 0.5% 0.8% 109 Charlotte 0.3% 0.6% 0.9% 110 Citrus 0.3% 0.6% 0.9% 111 Clay 0.3% 0.6% 0.8% 112 Collier 0.4% 0.7% 1.0% 113 Columbia 0.3% 0.6% 0.9% 114 Desoto 0.3% 0.6% 0.8% 115 Dixie 0.3% 0.5% 0.8% 116 Duval 0.3% 0.6% 0.8% 117 Escambia 0.3% 0.6% 0.9% 118 Flagler 0.4% 0.7% 1.0% 119 Franklin 0.3% 0.6% 0.9% 120 Gadsden 0.3% 0.5% 0.8% 121 Gilchrist 0.3% 0.5% 0.7% 122 Glades 0.3% 0.6% 0.8% 123 Gulf 0.3% 0.5% 0.8% 124 Hamilton 0.3% 0.6% 0.8% 125 Hardee 0.3% 0.5% 0.8% 126 Hendry 0.3% 0.6% 0.9% 127 Hernando 0.3% 0.6% 0.9% 128 Highlands 0.3% 0.6% 0.9% 129 Hillsborough 0.3% 0.6% 0.8% 130 Holmes 0.3% 0.6% 0.8% 131 Indian River 0.3% 0.6% 0.9% 132 Jackson 0.3% 0.5% 0.7% 133 Jefferson 0.3% 0.5% 0.8% 134 Lafayette 0.3% 0.5% 0.7% 135 Lake 0.3% 0.6% 0.9% 136 Lee 0.3% 0.6% 0.9% 137 Leon 0.3% 0.6% 0.8% 138 Levy 0.3% 0.5% 0.8% 139 Liberty 0.3% 0.6% 0.8% 140 Madison 0.3% 0.5% 0.8% 141 Manatee 0.3% 0.6% 0.8% 142 Marion 0.3% 0.5% 0.8% 143 Martin 0.3% 0.6% 0.8% 144 Miami-Dade 0.3% 0.5% 0.8% 145 Monroe 0.3% 0.6% 0.9% 146 Nassau 0.3% 0.6% 0.8% 147 Okaloosa 0.3% 0.6% 0.8% 148 Okeechobee 0.3% 0.6% 0.9% 149 Orange 0.3% 0.5% 0.8% 150 Osceola 0.3% 0.5% 0.8% 151 Palm Beach 0.3% 0.6% 0.8% 152 Pasco 0.3% 0.6% 0.9% 153 Pinellas 0.3% 0.6% 0.9% 154 Polk 0.3% 0.6% 0.8% 155 Putnam 0.3% 0.6% 0.8% 156 St. Johns 0.3% 0.6% 0.8% 157 St. Lucie 0.3% 0.6% 0.8% 158 Santa Rosa 0.3% 0.6% 0.9% 159 Sarasota 0.3% 0.6% 0.9% 160 Seminole 0.3% 0.6% 0.8% 161 Sumter 0.3% 0.5% 0.8% 162 Suwannee 0.3% 0.6% 0.8% 163 Taylor 0.3% 0.6% 0.9% 164 Union 0.3% 0.5% 0.8% 165 Volusia 0.3% 0.6% 0.8% 166 Wakulla 0.3% 0.6% 0.9% 167 Walton 0.3% 0.6% 0.9% 168 Washington 0.3% 0.5% 0.8% 169 The discretionary surtax conversion rate with respect to 170 communications services reflected on bills dated on or after 171 October 1, 2001, shall take effect without any further action by 172 a county or school board that has levied a surtax on or before 173 October 1, 2001. For a county or school board that levies a 174 surtax subsequent to October 1, 2001, the discretionary surtax 175 conversion rate with respect to communications services shall 176 take effect upon the effective date of the surtax as provided in 177 s. 212.054. The discretionary sales surtax rate on 178 communications services for a county or school board levying a 179 combined rate which is not listed in the table provided by this 180 subsection shall be calculated by averaging or adding the 181 appropriate rates from the table and rounding up to the nearest 182 tenth of a percent. 183 Section 4. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment 184 made by this act to section 212.055(2), Florida Statutes, in 185 references thereto, subsection (1), paragraph (a) of subsection 186 (2), and paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (4) of section 187 212.054, Florida Statutes, are reenacted to read: 188 212.054 Discretionary sales surtax; limitations, 189 administration, and collection.— 190 (1) No general excise tax on sales shall be levied by the 191 governing body of any county unless specifically authorized in 192 s. 212.055. Any general excise tax on sales authorized pursuant 193 to said section shall be administered and collected exclusively 194 as provided in this section. 195 (2)(a) The tax imposed by the governing body of any county 196 authorized to so levy pursuant to s. 212.055 shall be a 197 discretionary surtax on all transactions occurring in the county 198 which transactions are subject to the state tax imposed on 199 sales, use, services, rentals, admissions, and other 200 transactions by this chapter and communications services as 201 defined for purposes of chapter 202. The surtax, if levied, 202 shall be computed as the applicable rate or rates authorized 203 pursuant to s. 212.055 times the amount of taxable sales and 204 taxable purchases representing such transactions. If the surtax 205 is levied on the sale of an item of tangible personal property 206 or on the sale of a service, the surtax shall be computed by 207 multiplying the rate imposed by the county within which the sale 208 occurs by the amount of the taxable sale. The sale of an item of 209 tangible personal property or the sale of a service is not 210 subject to the surtax if the property, the service, or the 211 tangible personal property representing the service is delivered 212 within a county that does not impose a discretionary sales 213 surtax. 214 (4)(a) The department shall administer, collect, and 215 enforce the tax authorized under s. 212.055 pursuant to the same 216 procedures used in the administration, collection, and 217 enforcement of the general state sales tax imposed under the 218 provisions of this chapter, except as provided in this section. 219 The provisions of this chapter regarding interest and penalties 220 on delinquent taxes shall apply to the surtax. Discretionary 221 sales surtaxes shall not be included in the computation of 222 estimated taxes pursuant to s. 212.11. Notwithstanding any other 223 provision of law, a dealer need not separately state the amount 224 of the surtax on the charge ticket, sales slip, invoice, or 225 other tangible evidence of sale. For the purposes of this 226 section and s. 212.055, the “proceeds” of any surtax means all 227 funds collected and received by the department pursuant to a 228 specific authorization and levy under s. 212.055, including any 229 interest and penalties on delinquent surtaxes. 230 (b) The proceeds of a discretionary sales surtax collected 231 by the selling dealer located in a county imposing the surtax 232 shall be returned, less the cost of administration, to the 233 county where the selling dealer is located. The proceeds shall 234 be transferred to the Discretionary Sales Surtax Clearing Trust 235 Fund. A separate account shall be established in the trust fund 236 for each county imposing a discretionary surtax. The amount 237 deducted for the costs of administration may not exceed 3 238 percent of the total revenue generated for all counties levying 239 a surtax authorized in s. 212.055. The amount deducted for the 240 costs of administration may be used only for costs that are 241 solely and directly attributable to the surtax. The total cost 242 of administration shall be prorated among those counties levying 243 the surtax on the basis of the amount collected for a particular 244 county to the total amount collected for all counties. The 245 department shall distribute the moneys in the trust fund to the 246 appropriate counties each month, unless otherwise provided in s. 247 212.055. 248 Section 5. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment 249 made by this act to section 212.055(2), Florida Statutes, in a 250 reference thereto, section 212.0597, Florida Statutes, is 251 reenacted to read: 252 212.0597 Maximum tax on fractional aircraft ownership 253 interests.—The maximum tax imposed under this chapter, including 254 any discretionary sales surtax under s. 212.055, is limited to 255 $300 on the sale or use in this state of a fractional ownership 256 interest in aircraft pursuant to a fractional aircraft ownership 257 program. The tax applies to the total consideration paid for the 258 fractional ownership interest, including any amounts paid by the 259 fractional owner as monthly management or maintenance fees. The 260 tax applies only if the fractional ownership interest is sold by 261 or to the program manager of the fractional aircraft ownership 262 program, or if the fractional ownership interest is transferred 263 upon the approval of the program manager of the fractional 264 aircraft ownership program. 265 Section 6. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment 266 made by this act to section 212.055(2), Florida Statutes, in a 267 reference thereto, paragraph (b) of subsection (6) of section 268 212.20, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read: 269 212.20 Funds collected, disposition; additional powers of 270 department; operational expense; refund of taxes adjudicated 271 unconstitutionally collected.— 272 (6) Distribution of all proceeds under this chapter and ss. 273 202.18(1)(b) and (2)(b) and 203.01(1)(a)3. is as follows: 274 (b) Proceeds from discretionary sales surtaxes imposed 275 pursuant to ss. 212.054 and 212.055 shall be reallocated to the 276 Discretionary Sales Surtax Clearing Trust Fund. 277 Section 7. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment 278 made by this act to section 212.055(2), Florida Statutes, in a 279 reference thereto, paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section 280 1013.736, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read: 281 1013.736 District Effort Recognition Program.— 282 (2) ELIGIBILITY.—Annually, the Department of Education 283 shall determine each district’s compliance with the provisions 284 of s. 1003.03 and determine the district’s eligibility to 285 receive a district effort recognition grant for local school 286 facilities projects pursuant to this section. Districts shall be 287 eligible for a district effort recognition grant based upon 288 participation in any of the following: 289 (b) The district participates in the levy of the local 290 government infrastructure sales surtax authorized in s. 291 212.055(2). 292 Section 8. This act shall take effect July 1, 2015.