Florida Senate - 2015                                     SB 216
       
       
        
       By Senator Bradley
       
       
       
       
       
       7-00473-15                                             2015216__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to publicly funded retirement
    3         programs; amending s. 175.041, F.S.; revising
    4         applicability of the Marvin B. Clayton Firefighters
    5         Pension Trust Fund Act; providing that any
    6         municipality that provides fire protection services to
    7         a municipal services taxing unit under an interlocal
    8         agreement is eligible to receive property insurance
    9         premium taxes; amending s. 175.101, F.S.; authorizing
   10         a municipal services taxing unit that enters into an
   11         interlocal agreement for fire protection services with
   12         another municipality to impose an excise tax on
   13         property insurance premiums; amending s. 175.111,
   14         F.S.; requiring municipal services taxing units to
   15         provide the Division of Retirement of the Department
   16         of Management Services with a certified copy of the
   17         ordinance assessing and imposing certain taxes;
   18         amending ss. 175.122 and 175.351, F.S.; revising
   19         provisions relating to the limitation of disbursement
   20         to conform to changes made by the act; amending s.
   21         175.411, F.S.; authorizing a municipal services taxing
   22         unit, under certain conditions, to revoke its
   23         participation and cease to receive property insurance
   24         premium taxes; providing an effective date.
   25          
   26  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   27  
   28         Section 1. Subsection (3) of section 175.041, Florida
   29  Statutes, is amended to read:
   30         175.041 Firefighters’ Pension Trust Fund created;
   31  applicability of provisions.—For any municipality, special fire
   32  control district, chapter plan, local law municipality, local
   33  law special fire control district, or local law plan under this
   34  chapter:
   35         (3) The provisions of This chapter applies shall apply only
   36  to municipalities organized and established pursuant to the laws
   37  of the state and to special fire control districts. This chapter
   38  does, and said provisions shall not apply to the unincorporated
   39  areas of any county or counties except with respect to municipal
   40  services taxing units established in unincorporated areas for
   41  the purpose of receiving fire protection service from a
   42  municipality and special fire control districts that include
   43  unincorporated areas. This chapter also does not, nor shall the
   44  provisions hereof apply to any governmental entity whose
   45  firefighters are eligible to participate in the Florida
   46  Retirement System.
   47         (a) Special fire control districts that include, or consist
   48  exclusively of, unincorporated areas of one or more counties may
   49  levy and impose the tax and participate in the retirement
   50  programs enabled by this chapter.
   51         (b) With respect to the distribution of premium taxes, a
   52  single consolidated government consisting of a former county and
   53  one or more municipalities, consolidated pursuant to s. 3 or s.
   54  6(e), Art. VIII of the State Constitution, is also eligible to
   55  participate under this chapter. The consolidated government
   56  shall notify the division when it has entered into an interlocal
   57  agreement to provide fire services to a municipality within its
   58  boundaries. The municipality may enact an ordinance levying the
   59  tax as provided in s. 175.101. Upon being provided copies of the
   60  interlocal agreement and the municipal ordinance levying the
   61  tax, the division may distribute any premium taxes reported for
   62  the municipality to the consolidated government as long as the
   63  interlocal agreement is in effect.
   64         (c) Any municipality that has entered into an interlocal
   65  agreement to provide fire protection services to any other
   66  incorporated municipality or a municipal services taxing unit in
   67  an unincorporated area, in its entirety, for a period of 12
   68  months or more may be eligible to receive the premium taxes
   69  reported for such other municipality or municipal services
   70  taxing unit. In order to be eligible for such premium taxes, the
   71  municipality providing the fire services must notify the
   72  division that it has entered into an interlocal agreement with
   73  another municipality or a county on behalf of a municipal
   74  services taxing unit. The municipality receiving the fire
   75  services may enact an ordinance levying the tax as provided in
   76  s. 175.101. Upon being provided copies of the interlocal
   77  agreement and the municipal ordinance levying the tax, the
   78  division may distribute any premium taxes reported for the
   79  municipality or municipal services taxing unit receiving the
   80  fire services to the participating municipality providing the
   81  fire services as long as the interlocal agreement is in effect.
   82         Section 2. Subsections (1) and (3) of section 175.101,
   83  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
   84         175.101 State excise tax on property insurance premiums
   85  authorized; procedure.—For any municipality, special fire
   86  control district, chapter plan, local law municipality, local
   87  law special fire control district, or local law plan under this
   88  chapter:
   89         (1) Each municipality, or special fire control district, or
   90  municipal services taxing unit in this state described and
   91  classified in s. 175.041, having a lawfully established
   92  firefighters’ pension trust fund or municipal fund or special
   93  fire control district fund, by whatever name known, providing
   94  pension benefits to firefighters as provided under this chapter,
   95  or receiving fire protection services from a municipality
   96  participating under this chapter, may assess and impose on every
   97  insurance company, corporation, or other insurer now engaged in
   98  or carrying on, or who shall hereinafter engage in or carry on,
   99  the business of property insurance as shown by the records of
  100  the Office of Insurance Regulation of the Financial Services
  101  Commission, an excise tax in addition to any lawful license or
  102  excise tax now levied by each of the municipalities, or special
  103  fire control districts, or municipal services taxing units,
  104  respectively, amounting to 1.85 percent of the gross amount of
  105  receipts of premiums from policyholders on all premiums
  106  collected on property insurance policies covering property
  107  within the corporate limits of such municipalities or within the
  108  legally defined boundaries of special fire control districts or
  109  municipal services taxing units, respectively. Whenever the
  110  boundaries of a special fire control district that has lawfully
  111  established a firefighters’ pension trust fund encompass a
  112  portion of the corporate territory of a municipality that has
  113  also lawfully established a firefighters’ pension trust fund, or
  114  a municipal services taxing unit receiving fire protection
  115  services from a municipality participating under this chapter,
  116  that portion of the tax receipts attributable to insurance
  117  policies covering property situated both within the
  118  municipality, or municipal services taxing unit, and the special
  119  fire control district shall be given to the fire service
  120  provider. For the purpose of this section, the boundaries of a
  121  special fire control district include an area that has been
  122  annexed until the completion of the 4-year period provided for
  123  in s. 171.093(4), or other agreed-upon extension, or if a
  124  special fire control district or municipal services taxing unit
  125  is providing services under an interlocal agreement executed in
  126  accordance with s. 171.093(3). The agent shall identify the fire
  127  service provider on the property owner’s application for
  128  insurance. Remaining revenues collected pursuant to this chapter
  129  shall be distributed to the municipality, or special fire
  130  control district, or municipal services taxing unit according to
  131  the location of the insured property.
  132         (3) This excise tax shall be payable annually on March 1 of
  133  each year after the passage of an ordinance, in the case of a
  134  municipality, or resolution, in the case of a special fire
  135  control district or municipal services taxing unit, assessing
  136  and imposing the tax authorized by this section. Installments of
  137  taxes shall be paid according to the provision of s.
  138  624.5092(2)(a), (b), and (c).
  139  
  140  This section also applies to any municipality consisting of a
  141  single consolidated government which is made up of a former
  142  county and one or more municipalities, consolidated pursuant to
  143  the authority in s. 3 or s. 6(e), Art. VIII of the State
  144  Constitution, and to property insurance policies covering
  145  property within the boundaries of the consolidated government,
  146  regardless of whether the properties are located within one or
  147  more separately incorporated areas within the consolidated
  148  government, provided the properties are being provided fire
  149  protection services by the consolidated government. This section
  150  also applies to any municipality, as provided in s.
  151  175.041(3)(c), which has entered into an interlocal agreement to
  152  receive fire protection services from another municipality
  153  participating under this chapter. The excise tax may be levied
  154  on all premiums collected on property insurance policies
  155  covering property located within the corporate limits of the
  156  municipality receiving the fire protection services, but will be
  157  available for distribution to the municipality providing the
  158  fire protection services.
  159         Section 3. Section 175.111, Florida Statutes, is amended to
  160  read:
  161         175.111 Certified copy of ordinance or resolution filed;
  162  insurance companies’ annual report of premiums; duplicate files;
  163  book of accounts.—For any municipality, municipal services
  164  taxing unit, special fire control district, chapter plan, local
  165  law municipality, local law special fire control district, or
  166  local law plan under this chapter, whenever any municipality
  167  passes an ordinance or whenever any special fire control
  168  district passes a resolution establishing a chapter plan or
  169  local law plan assessing and imposing the taxes authorized in s.
  170  175.101, a certified copy of such ordinance or resolution shall
  171  be deposited with the division. Thereafter every insurance
  172  company, association, corporation, or other insurer carrying on
  173  the business of property insurance on real or personal property,
  174  on or before the succeeding March 1 after date of the passage of
  175  the ordinance or resolution, shall report fully in writing and
  176  under oath to the division and the Department of Revenue a just
  177  and true account of all premiums by such insurer received for
  178  property insurance policies covering or insuring any real or
  179  personal property located within the corporate limits of each
  180  such municipality, municipal services taxing unit, or special
  181  fire control district during the period of time elapsing between
  182  the date of the passage of the ordinance or resolution and the
  183  end of the calendar year. The report shall include the code
  184  designation as prescribed by the division for each piece of
  185  insured property, real or personal, located within the corporate
  186  limits of each municipality and within the legally defined
  187  boundaries of each special fire control district and municipal
  188  services taxing unit. The aforesaid insurer shall annually
  189  thereafter, on March 1, file with the Department of Revenue a
  190  similar report covering the preceding year’s premium receipts,
  191  and every such insurer at the same time of making such reports
  192  shall pay to the Department of Revenue the amount of the tax
  193  hereinbefore mentioned. Every insurer engaged in carrying on
  194  such insurance business in the state shall keep accurate books
  195  of accounts of all such business done by it within the corporate
  196  limits of each such municipality and within the legally defined
  197  boundaries of each such special fire control district and
  198  municipal services taxing unit, and in such manner as to be able
  199  to comply with the provisions of this chapter. Based on the
  200  insurers’ reports of premium receipts, the division shall
  201  prepare a consolidated premium report and shall furnish to any
  202  municipality, municipal services taxing unit, or special fire
  203  control district requesting the same a copy of the relevant
  204  section of that report.
  205         Section 4. Section 175.122, Florida Statutes, is amended to
  206  read:
  207         175.122 Limitation of disbursement.—For any municipality,
  208  municipal services taxing unit, special fire control district,
  209  chapter plan, local law municipality, local law special fire
  210  control district, or local law plan under this chapter, any
  211  municipality, municipal services taxing unit, or special fire
  212  control district participating in the firefighters’ pension
  213  trust fund pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, whether
  214  under a chapter plan or local law plan, shall be limited to
  215  receiving any moneys from such fund in excess of that produced
  216  by one-half of the excise tax, as provided for in s. 175.101;
  217  however, any such municipality, municipal services taxing unit,
  218  or special fire control district receiving less than 6 percent
  219  of its fire department payroll from such fund shall be entitled
  220  to receive from such fund the amount determined under s.
  221  175.121, in excess of one-half of the excise tax, not to exceed
  222  6 percent of its fire department payroll. Payroll amounts of
  223  members included in the Florida Retirement System shall not be
  224  included.
  225         Section 5. Section 175.351, Florida Statutes, is amended to
  226  read:
  227         175.351 Municipalities, municipal services taxing units,
  228  and special fire control districts having their own pension
  229  plans for firefighters.—For any municipality, municipal services
  230  taxing unit, special fire control district, local law
  231  municipality, local law special fire control district, or local
  232  law plan under this chapter, in order for municipalities,
  233  municipal services taxing units, and special fire control
  234  districts with their own pension plans for firefighters, or for
  235  firefighters and police officers if included, to participate in
  236  the distribution of the tax fund established pursuant to s.
  237  175.101, local law plans must meet the minimum benefits and
  238  minimum standards set forth in this chapter.
  239         (1) If a municipality has a pension plan for firefighters,
  240  or a pension plan for firefighters and police officers if
  241  included, which in the opinion of the division meets the minimum
  242  benefits and minimum standards set forth in this chapter, the
  243  board of trustees of the pension plan, as approved by a majority
  244  of firefighters of the municipality, may:
  245         (a) Place the income from the premium tax in s. 175.101 in
  246  such pension plan for the sole and exclusive use of its
  247  firefighters, or for firefighters and police officers if
  248  included, where it shall become an integral part of that pension
  249  plan and shall be used to pay extra benefits to the firefighters
  250  included in that pension plan; or
  251         (b) Place the income from the premium tax in s. 175.101 in
  252  a separate supplemental plan to pay extra benefits to
  253  firefighters, or to firefighters and police officers if
  254  included, participating in such separate supplemental plan.
  255         (2) The premium tax provided by this chapter shall in all
  256  cases be used in its entirety to provide extra benefits to
  257  firefighters, or to firefighters and police officers if
  258  included. However, local law plans in effect on October 1, 1998,
  259  must comply with the minimum benefit provisions of this chapter
  260  only to the extent that additional premium tax revenues become
  261  available to incrementally fund the cost of such compliance as
  262  provided in s. 175.162(2)(a). If a plan is in compliance with
  263  such minimum benefit provisions, as subsequent additional
  264  premium tax revenues become available, they must be used to
  265  provide extra benefits. Local law plans created by special act
  266  before May 27, 1939, are deemed to comply with this chapter. For
  267  the purpose of this chapter, the term:
  268         (a) “Additional premium tax revenues” means revenues
  269  received by a municipality or special fire control district
  270  pursuant to s. 175.121 which exceed that amount received for
  271  calendar year 1997.
  272         (b) “Extra benefits” means benefits in addition to or
  273  greater than those provided to general employees of the
  274  municipality and in addition to those in existence for
  275  firefighters on March 12, 1999.
  276         (3) A retirement plan or amendment to a retirement plan may
  277  not be proposed for adoption unless the proposed plan or
  278  amendment contains an actuarial estimate of the costs involved.
  279  Such proposed plan or proposed plan change may not be adopted
  280  without the approval of the municipality, special fire control
  281  district, or, where permitted, the Legislature. Copies of the
  282  proposed plan or proposed plan change and the actuarial impact
  283  statement of the proposed plan or proposed plan change shall be
  284  furnished to the division before the last public hearing
  285  thereon. Such statement must also indicate whether the proposed
  286  plan or proposed plan change is in compliance with s. 14, Art. X
  287  of the State Constitution and those provisions of part VII of
  288  chapter 112 which are not expressly provided in this chapter.
  289  Notwithstanding any other provision, only those local law plans
  290  created by special act of legislation before May 27, 1939, are
  291  deemed to meet the minimum benefits and minimum standards only
  292  in this chapter.
  293         (4) Notwithstanding any other provision, with respect to
  294  any supplemental plan municipality:
  295         (a) A local law plan and a supplemental plan may continue
  296  to use their definition of compensation or salary in existence
  297  on March 12, 1999.
  298         (b) Section 175.061(1)(b) does not apply, and a local law
  299  plan and a supplemental plan shall continue to be administered
  300  by a board or boards of trustees numbered, constituted, and
  301  selected as the board or boards were numbered, constituted, and
  302  selected on December 1, 2000.
  303         (c) The election set forth in paragraph (1)(b) is deemed to
  304  have been made.
  305         (5) The retirement plan setting forth the benefits and the
  306  trust agreement, if any, covering the duties and
  307  responsibilities of the trustees and the regulations of the
  308  investment of funds must be in writing, and copies made
  309  available to the participants and to the general public.
  310         Section 6. Section 175.411, Florida Statutes, is amended to
  311  read:
  312         175.411 Optional participation.—A municipality, municipal
  313  services taxing unit, or special fire control district may
  314  revoke its participation under this chapter by rescinding the
  315  legislative act, ordinance, or resolution which assesses and
  316  imposes the taxes authorized in s. 175.101, and by furnishing a
  317  certified copy of such legislative act, ordinance, or resolution
  318  to the division. Thereafter, the municipality, municipal
  319  services taxing unit, or special fire control district shall be
  320  prohibited from participating under this chapter, and shall not
  321  be eligible for future premium tax moneys. Premium tax moneys
  322  previously received shall continue to be used for the sole and
  323  exclusive benefit of firefighters, or firefighters and police
  324  officers where included, and no amendment, legislative act,
  325  ordinance, or resolution shall be adopted which shall have the
  326  effect of reducing the then-vested accrued benefits of the
  327  firefighters, retirees, or their beneficiaries. The
  328  municipality, municipal services taxing unit, or special fire
  329  control district shall continue to furnish an annual report to
  330  the division as provided in s. 175.261. If the municipality,
  331  municipal services taxing unit, or special fire control district
  332  subsequently terminates the defined benefit plan, they shall do
  333  so in compliance with the provisions of s. 175.361.
  334         Section 7. This act shall take effect July 1, 2015.