Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 110
By the Committee on Fiscal Policy; and Senator Simon
594-02358-25 2025110c1
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to rural communities; reenacting and
3 amending s. 20.60, F.S.; revising the list of
4 divisions and offices within the Department of
5 Commerce to conform to changes made by the act;
6 revising the annual program reports that must be
7 included in the annual report of the Department of
8 Commerce; amending s. 163.3168, F.S.; requiring the
9 state land planning agency to give preference for
10 technical assistance funding to local governments
11 located in a rural area of opportunity; requiring the
12 agency to consult with the Office of Rural Prosperity
13 when awarding certain funding; amending s. 201.15,
14 F.S.; requiring that a certain sum be paid to the
15 credit of the State Transportation Trust Fund for the
16 exclusive use of the Florida Arterial Road
17 Modernization Program; amending s. 202.18, F.S.;
18 redirecting the transfer of certain communication
19 services tax revenue; amending s. 212.20, F.S.;
20 revising the distribution of sales and use tax revenue
21 to include a transfer to fiscally constrained
22 counties; amending s. 215.971, F.S.; providing
23 construction regarding agreements funded with federal
24 or state assistance; requiring the agency to expedite
25 payment requests from a county, municipality, or rural
26 area of opportunity for a specified purpose; requiring
27 each state agency to report to the Office of Rural
28 Prosperity by a certain date with a summary of certain
29 information; requiring the office to summarize the
30 information it receives for its annual report;
31 amending s. 218.67, F.S.; revising the conditions
32 required for a county to be considered a fiscally
33 constrained county; authorizing eligible counties to
34 receive a distribution of sales and use tax revenue;
35 revising the sources that the Department of Revenue
36 must use to determine the amount distributed to
37 fiscally constrained counties; revising the factors
38 for allocation of the distribution of revenue to
39 fiscally constrained counties; requiring that the
40 computation and amount distributed be calculated based
41 on a specified rounding algorithm; authorizing
42 specified uses for the revenue; conforming a cross
43 reference; amending s. 288.0001, F.S.; requiring the
44 Office of Economic and Demographic Research and the
45 Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government
46 Accountability (OPPAGA) to prepare a report for a
47 specified purpose; specifying requirements for the
48 report; providing that the Office of Economic and
49 Demographic Research and OPPAGA must be provided with
50 all data necessary to complete the rural communities
51 or areas report upon request; authorizing the Office
52 of Economic and Demographic Research and OPPAGA to
53 collaborate on all data collection and analysis;
54 requiring the Office of Economic and Demographic
55 Research and OPPAGA to submit the report to the
56 Legislature by a specified date; providing additional
57 requirements for the report; providing for expiration;
58 amending s. 288.001, F.S.; requiring the Florida Small
59 Business Development Center Network to use certain
60 funds appropriated for a specified purpose;
61 authorizing the network to dedicate funds to
62 facilitate certain events; amending s. 288.007, F.S.;
63 revising which local governments and economic
64 development organizations seeking to recruit
65 businesses are required to submit a specified report;
66 creating s. 288.013, F.S.; providing legislative
67 findings; creating the Office of Rural Prosperity
68 within the Department of Commerce; requiring the
69 Governor to appoint a director, subject to
70 confirmation by the Senate; providing that the
71 director reports to and serves at the pleasure of the
72 secretary of the department; providing the duties of
73 the office; requiring the office to establish by a
74 specified date a certain number of regional rural
75 community liaison centers across this state for a
76 specified purpose; providing the powers, duties, and
77 functions of the liaison centers; requiring the
78 liaison centers, to the extent possible, to coordinate
79 with certain entities; requiring the liaison centers
80 to engage with the Rural Economic Development
81 Initiative (REDI); requiring at least one staff member
82 of a liaison center to attend the monthly meetings in
83 person or by means of electronic communication;
84 requiring the director of the office to submit an
85 annual report to the Administration Commission in the
86 Executive Office of the Governor; specifying
87 requirements for the annual report; requiring that the
88 annual report also be submitted to the Legislature by
89 a specified date and published on the office’s
90 website; requiring the director of the office to
91 attend the next Administration Commission meeting to
92 present detailed information from the annual report;
93 requiring OPPAGA to review the effectiveness of the
94 office by a certain date annually until a specified
95 date; requiring OPPAGA to review the office at
96 specified intervals; requiring such reviews to include
97 certain information to be considered by the
98 Legislature; requiring that such reports be submitted
99 to the Legislature; requiring OPPAGA to review certain
100 strategies from other states; requiring OPPAGA to
101 submit to the Legislature its findings at certain
102 intervals; creating s. 288.014, F.S.; providing
103 legislative findings; requiring the Office of Rural
104 Prosperity to administer the Renaissance Grants
105 Program to provide block grants to eligible
106 communities; requiring the Office of Economic and
107 Demographic Research to certify to the Office of Rural
108 Prosperity certain information by a specified date;
109 defining the term “growth-impeded”; requiring the
110 Office of Economic and Demographic Research to certify
111 annually that a county remains growth-impeded until
112 such county has positive population growth for a
113 specified amount of time; providing that such county,
114 after 3 consecutive years of population growth, is
115 eligible to participate in the program for 1
116 additional year; requiring a county eligible for the
117 program to enter into an agreement with the Office of
118 Rural Prosperity in order to receive the block grant;
119 giving such counties broad authority to design their
120 specific plans; prohibiting the Office of Rural
121 Prosperity from determining how such counties
122 implement the block grant; requiring regional rural
123 community liaison center staff to provide assistance,
124 upon request; requiring participating counties to
125 report annually to the Office of Rural Prosperity with
126 certain information; providing that a participating
127 county receives a specified amount from funds
128 appropriated to the program; requiring participating
129 counties to make all attempts to limit the amount
130 spent on administrative costs; authorizing
131 participating counties to contribute other funds for
132 block grant purposes; requiring participating counties
133 to hire a renaissance coordinator; providing that
134 funds from the block grant may be used to hire the
135 renaissance coordinator; providing the
136 responsibilities of the renaissance coordinator;
137 requiring the regional rural community liaison center
138 staff to provide assistance and training to the
139 renaissance coordinator, upon request; requiring
140 participating counties to design a plan to make
141 targeted investments to achieve population growth and
142 increase economic vitality; providing requirements for
143 such plans; requiring participating counties to
144 develop intergovernmental agreements with certain
145 entities in order to implement the plan; requiring the
146 Auditor General to conduct an operational audit every
147 2 years for a specified purpose; requiring the Office
148 of Economic and Demographic Research to provide an
149 annual report on a specified date of renaissance block
150 grant recipients by county; providing requirements for
151 the annual report; requiring that the report be
152 submitted to the Legislature; prohibiting funds
153 appropriated for the program from being subject to
154 reversion; providing for an expiration of the section;
155 creating s. 288.0175, F.S.; creating the Public
156 Infrastructure Smart Technology Grant Program within
157 the Office of Rural Prosperity; defining terms;
158 requiring the office to contract with one or more
159 smart technology lead organizations to administer a
160 grant program for a specified purpose; providing the
161 criteria for such contracts; requiring that projects
162 funded by the grant program be included in the
163 office’s annual report; amending s. 288.018, F.S.;
164 requiring the office, rather than the Department of
165 Commerce, to establish a grant program to provide
166 funding for regional economic development
167 organizations; revising who may apply for such grants;
168 providing that a grant award may not exceed a certain
169 amount in a year; providing exceptions to a provision
170 that the department may expend a certain amount for a
171 certain purpose; amending s. 288.019, F.S.; revising
172 the program criteria and procedures that agencies and
173 organizations of REDI are required to review; revising
174 the list of impacts each REDI agency and organization
175 must consider in its review; requiring REDI agencies
176 and organizations to develop a proposal for
177 modifications which minimizes the financial and
178 resource impacts to a rural community; requiring that
179 ranking of evaluation criteria and scoring procedures
180 be used only when ranking is a component of the
181 program; requiring that match requirements be waived
182 or reduced for rural communities; providing that
183 donations of land may be treated as in-kind matches;
184 requiring each agency and organization that applies
185 for or receives federal funding to request federal
186 approval to waive or reduce the financial match
187 requirements, if any, for projects in rural
188 communities; requiring that proposals be submitted to
189 the office, rather than the department; requiring each
190 REDI agency and organization to modify rules or
191 policies as necessary to reflect the finalized
192 proposal; requiring that information about authorized
193 waivers be included on the office’s online rural
194 resource directory; conforming a cross-reference;
195 amending s. 288.021, F.S.; requiring, when
196 practicable, the economic development liaison to serve
197 as the agency representative for REDI; amending s.
198 288.065, F.S.; defining the term “unit of local
199 government”; requiring the office to include in its
200 annual report certain information about the Rural
201 Community Development Revolving Loan Fund; conforming
202 provisions to changes made by the act; amending s.
203 288.0655, F.S.; revising the list of grants that may
204 be awarded by the office; deleting the authorization
205 for local match requirements to be waived for a
206 catalyst site; revising the list of departments the
207 office must consult with to certify applicants;
208 requiring the office to include certain information
209 about the Rural Infrastructure Trust Fund in its
210 annual report; conforming provisions to changes made
211 by the act; amending s. 288.0656, F.S.; providing
212 legislative findings; providing that REDI is created
213 within the Office of Rural Prosperity, rather than the
214 department; deleting the definitions of the terms
215 “catalyst project” and “catalyst site”; requiring that
216 an alternate for each designated deputy secretary be a
217 deputy secretary or higher-level staff person;
218 requiring that the names of such alternates be
219 reported to the director of the office; requiring at
220 least one rural liaison to participate in REDI
221 meetings; requiring REDI to meet at least each month;
222 deleting a provision that a rural area of opportunity
223 may designate catalyst projects; requiring REDI to
224 submit a certain report to the office, rather than to
225 the department; specifying requirements for such
226 report; conforming provisions to changes made by the
227 act; repealing s. 288.06561, F.S., relating to
228 reduction or waiver of financial match requirements;
229 amending s. 288.0657, F.S.; requiring the office,
230 rather than the department, to provide grants to
231 assist rural communities; providing that such grants
232 may be used for specified purposes; requiring the
233 rural liaison to assist those applying for such
234 grants; providing that marketing grants may include
235 certain funding; amending s. 288.1226, F.S.; revising
236 required components of the 4-year marketing plan of
237 the Florida Tourism Industry Marketing Corporation;
238 repealing s. 288.12266, F.S., relating to the Targeted
239 Marketing Assistance Program; amending s. 288.9961,
240 F.S.; revising the definition of the term
241 “underserved”; requiring the office to consult with
242 regional rural community liaison centers on
243 development of a certain strategic plan; requiring
244 rural liaisons to assist rural communities with
245 providing feedback in applying for federal grants for
246 broadband Internet services; requiring the office to
247 submit reports with specified information to the
248 Governor and the Legislature within certain
249 timeframes; repealing s. 290.06561, F.S., relating to
250 designation of rural enterprise zones as catalyst
251 sites; amending s. 319.32, F.S.; revising the
252 disposition of fees collected for certain title
253 certificates; amending s. 334.044, F.S.; revising the
254 powers and duties of the Department of Transportation;
255 amending s. 339.0801, F.S.; revising the allocation of
256 funds received in the State Transportation Trust Fund;
257 amending s. 339.2816, F.S.; requiring, rather than
258 authorizing, that certain funds received from the
259 State Transportation Trust Fund be used for the Small
260 County Road Assistance Program; requiring the
261 department to use other additional revenues for the
262 Small County Road Assistance Program; providing an
263 exception from the prohibition against funding
264 capacity improvements on county roads; amending s.
265 339.2817, F.S.; revising the criteria that the
266 Department of Transportation must consider for
267 evaluating projects for County Incentive Grant Program
268 assistance; authorizing a county located either wholly
269 or partially within the Everglades Agricultural Area
270 to request a specified percent of project costs for
271 eligible projects; amending s. 339.2818, F.S.;
272 deleting a provision that the funds allocated under
273 the Small County Outreach Program are in addition to
274 the Small County Road Assistance Program; deleting a
275 provision that a local government within the
276 Everglades Agricultural Area, the Peace River Basin,
277 or the Suwannee River Basin may compete for additional
278 funding; conforming provisions to changes made by the
279 act; making a technical change; amending s. 339.68,
280 F.S.; providing legislative findings; creating the
281 Florida Arterial Road Modernization Program within the
282 Department of Commerce; defining the term “rural
283 community”; requiring the department to allocate from
284 the State Transportation Trust Fund a minimum sum in
285 each fiscal year to fund the program; providing that
286 such funding is in addition to any other funding
287 provided to the program; providing criteria the
288 department must use to prioritize projects for funding
289 under the program; requiring the department to submit
290 a report to the Governor and the Legislature by a
291 specified date; requiring that such report be
292 submitted every 2 years thereafter; providing the
293 criteria for such report; requiring the Department of
294 Transportation to allocate additional funds to
295 implement the Small County Road Assistance Program and
296 amend the tentative work program for a specified
297 number of fiscal years; requiring the department to
298 submit a budget amendment before the adoption of the
299 work program; requiring the department to allocate
300 sufficient funds to implement the Florida Arterial
301 Road Modernization Program; requiring the department
302 to amend the current tentative work program for a
303 specified number of fiscal years to include the
304 program’s projects; requiring the department to submit
305 a budget amendment before the implementation of the
306 program; requiring that the revenue increases in the
307 State Transportation Trust Fund which are derived from
308 the act be used to fund the work program; amending s.
309 381.402, F.S.; revising eligibility requirements for
310 the Florida Reimbursement Assistance for Medical
311 Education Program; revising the proof required to make
312 payments for participation in the program; creating s.
313 381.403, F.S.; providing legislative findings;
314 creating the Rural Access to Primary and Preventive
315 Care Grant Program within the Department of Health for
316 a specified purpose; defining terms; requiring the
317 department to award grants under the program to
318 physicians, physician assistants, and autonomous
319 advanced practice registered nurses intending to open
320 new practices or practice locations in qualifying
321 rural areas; specifying eligibility criteria for the
322 grants; requiring the department, by a specified date,
323 to create an application process for applying for
324 grants under the program; specifying requirements for
325 the application and application process; authorizing
326 the department, subject to specific appropriation, to
327 award grants under the program; specifying limitations
328 on the awarding of grants; specifying expenses for
329 which grant funds are authorized and prohibited;
330 requiring the department to enter into a contract with
331 each grant recipient; specifying requirements for the
332 contracts; authorizing the department to adopt rules;
333 requiring the department, beginning on a specified
334 date and annually thereafter, to provide a report
335 containing specified information to the Governor and
336 the Legislature; providing for future legislative
337 review and repeal of the program; creating s.
338 381.9856, F.S.; creating the Stroke, Cardiac, and
339 Obstetric Response and Education Grant Program within
340 the Department of Health; specifying the purpose of
341 the program; defining terms; requiring the department
342 to award grants under the program to certain entities
343 meeting specified criteria; requiring the department
344 to give priority to certain applicants; limiting
345 individual grants to a specified amount per year;
346 requiring grant recipients to submit quarterly reports
347 to the department; requiring the department to monitor
348 program implementation and outcomes; requiring the
349 department to submit an annual report to the Governor
350 and the Legislature by a specified date; authorizing
351 the department to adopt rules; providing construction;
352 providing for future legislative review and repeal of
353 the program; amending s. 395.6061, F.S.; providing
354 that rural hospital capital grant improvement program
355 funding may be awarded to rural hospitals to establish
356 mobile care units and telehealth kiosks for specified
357 purposes; defining terms; amending s. 420.9073, F.S.;
358 revising the calculation of guaranteed amounts
359 distributed from the Local Government Housing Trust
360 Fund; reenacting and amending s. 420.9075, F.S.;
361 authorizing a certain percentage of the funds made
362 available in each county and eligible municipality
363 from the local housing distribution to be used to
364 preserve multifamily affordable rental housing;
365 specifying what such funds may be used for; providing
366 an expiration; amending s. 1001.451, F.S.; revising
367 the services required to be provided by regional
368 consortium service organizations when such services
369 are found to be necessary and appropriate by such
370 organizations’ boards of directors; revising the
371 allocation that certain regional consortium service
372 organizations are eligible to receive from the General
373 Appropriations Act; requiring each regional consortium
374 service organization to submit an annual report to the
375 Department of Education; requiring that unexpended
376 amounts in certain funds be carried forward; requiring
377 each regional consortium service organization to
378 provide quarterly financial reports to member
379 districts; requiring member districts to designate a
380 district to serve as a fiscal agent for certain
381 purposes; providing for compensation of the fiscal
382 agent district; requiring regional consortium service
383 organizations to retain all funds received from grants
384 or contracted services to cover indirect or
385 administrative costs associated with the provision of
386 such services; requiring the regional consortium
387 service organization board of directors to determine
388 products and services provided by the organization;
389 requiring a regional consortium service organization
390 board of directors to recommend the establishment of
391 positions and appointments to a fiscal agent district;
392 requiring that personnel be employed under specified
393 personnel policies; authorizing the regional
394 consortium service organization board of directors to
395 recommend a salary schedule for personnel; authorizing
396 regional consortium service organizations to purchase
397 or lease property and facilities essential to their
398 operations; providing for the distribution of revenue
399 if a regional consortium service organization is
400 dissolved; deleting a provision requiring applications
401 for incentive grants; authorizing regional consortium
402 service organization boards of directors to contract
403 to provide services to nonmember districts; requiring
404 that a fund balance be established for specified
405 purposes; deleting a requirement for the use of
406 certain funds; authorizing a regional consortium
407 service organization to administer a specified
408 program; creating s. 1001.4511, F.S.; creating the
409 Regional Consortia Service Organization Supplemental
410 Services Program; providing the purpose of the
411 program; authorizing funds to be used for specified
412 purposes; requiring each regional consortium service
413 organization to report the distribution of funds
414 annually to the Legislature; providing for the
415 carryforward of funds; providing appropriations;
416 creating s. 1009.635, F.S.; establishing the Rural
417 Incentive for Professional Educators Program within
418 the Department of Education; requiring the program to
419 provide financial assistance for the repayment of
420 student loans to eligible participants who establish
421 permanent residency and employment in rural
422 communities; providing that eligible participants may
423 receive up to a certain amount in total student loan
424 repayment assistance over a certain timeframe;
425 requiring the department to verify certain information
426 of participants in the program before it disburses
427 awards; providing that the program is administered
428 through the Office of Student Financial Assistance
429 within the department; requiring the department to
430 develop procedures and monitor compliance; requiring
431 the State Board of Education to adopt rules by a
432 certain date; amending s. 1013.62, F.S.; revising the
433 calculation methodology to determine the amount of
434 revenue that a school district must distribute to each
435 eligible charter school; amending s. 1013.64, F.S.;
436 revising conditions under which a school district may
437 receive funding on an approved construction project;
438 providing appropriations for specified purposes;
439 amending ss. 163.3187, 212.205, 257.191, 257.193,
440 265.283, 288.11621, 288.11631, 443.191, 571.26, and
441 571.265, F.S.; conforming cross-references and
442 provisions to changes made by the act; reenacting s.
443 288.9935(8), F.S., relating to the Microfinance
444 Guarantee Program, to incorporate the amendment made
445 to s. 20.60, F.S., in a reference thereto; reenacting
446 ss. 125.0104(5)(c), 193.624(3), 196.182(2), 218.12(1),
447 218.125(1), 218.135(1), 218.136(1), 252.35(2)(cc),
448 288.102(4), 403.064(16)(g), 589.08(2) and (3), and
449 1011.62(1)(f), F.S., relating to authorized uses of
450 tourist development tax; applicability of assessments
451 of renewable energy source devices; application of
452 exemptions of renewable energy source devices;
453 appropriations to offset reductions in ad valorem tax
454 revenue in fiscally constrained counties; offset for
455 tax loss associated with certain constitutional
456 amendments affecting fiscally constrained counties;
457 offset for tax loss associated with reductions in
458 value of certain citrus fruit packing and processing
459 equipment; offset for ad valorem revenue loss
460 affecting fiscally constrained counties; Division of
461 Emergency Management powers; one-to-one match
462 requirement under the Supply Chain Innovation Grant
463 Program; applicability of provisions related to reuse
464 of reclaimed water; land acquisition restrictions; and
465 funds for operation of schools, respectively, to
466 incorporate the amendment made to s. 218.67, F.S., in
467 references thereto; reenacting s. 403.0741(6)(c),
468 F.S., relating to grease waste removal and disposal,
469 to incorporate the amendments made to ss. 218.67 and
470 339.2818, F.S., in references thereto; reenacting s.
471 163.3177(7)(e), F.S., relating to required and
472 optional elements of comprehensive plans and studies
473 and surveys, to incorporate the amendment made to s.
474 288.0656, F.S., in a reference thereto; reenacting s.
475 288.9962(7)(a), F.S., relating to the Broadband
476 Opportunity Program, to incorporate the amendment made
477 to s. 288.9961, F.S., in a reference thereto;
478 reenacting s. 215.211(1), F.S., relating to service
479 charges and elimination or reduction for specified
480 proceeds, to incorporate the amendment made to s.
481 319.32, F.S., in a reference thereto; reenacting s.
482 339.66(5) and (6), F.S., relating to upgrades of
483 arterial highways with controlled access facilities,
484 to incorporate the amendment made to s. 339.68, F.S.,
485 in references thereto; reenacting ss. 420.9072(4) and
486 (6), 420.9076(7)(b), and 420.9079(2), F.S., relating
487 to the State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program,
488 adoption of affordable housing incentive strategies
489 and committees, and the Local Government Housing Trust
490 Fund, respectively, to incorporate the amendment made
491 to s. 420.9073, F.S., in references thereto; providing
492 an effective date.
493
494 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
495
496 Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) and paragraph
497 (c) of subsection (10) of section 20.60, Florida Statutes, are
498 amended, and paragraph (a) of subsection (5) of that section is
499 reenacted, to read:
500 20.60 Department of Commerce; creation; powers and duties.—
501 (3)(a) The following divisions and offices of the
502 Department of Commerce are established:
503 1. The Division of Economic Development.
504 2. The Division of Community Development.
505 3. The Division of Workforce Services.
506 4. The Division of Finance and Administration.
507 5. The Division of Information Technology.
508 6. The Office of the Secretary.
509 7. The Office of Rural Prosperity.
510 8. The Office of Economic Accountability and Transparency,
511 which shall:
512 a. Oversee the department’s critical objectives as
513 determined by the secretary and make sure that the department’s
514 key objectives are clearly communicated to the public.
515 b. Organize department resources, expertise, data, and
516 research to focus on and solve the complex economic challenges
517 facing the state.
518 c. Provide leadership for the department’s priority issues
519 that require integration of policy, management, and critical
520 objectives from multiple programs and organizations internal and
521 external to the department; and organize and manage external
522 communication on such priority issues.
523 d. Promote and facilitate key department initiatives to
524 address priority economic issues and explore data and identify
525 opportunities for innovative approaches to address such economic
526 issues.
527 e. Promote strategic planning for the department.
528 (5) The divisions within the department have specific
529 responsibilities to achieve the duties, responsibilities, and
530 goals of the department. Specifically:
531 (a) The Division of Economic Development shall:
532 1. Analyze and evaluate business prospects identified by
533 the Governor and the secretary.
534 2. Administer certain tax refund, tax credit, and grant
535 programs created in law. Notwithstanding any other provision of
536 law, the department may expend interest earned from the
537 investment of program funds deposited in the Grants and
538 Donations Trust Fund to contract for the administration of those
539 programs, or portions of the programs, assigned to the
540 department by law, by the appropriations process, or by the
541 Governor. Such expenditures shall be subject to review under
542 chapter 216.
543 3. Develop measurement protocols for the state incentive
544 programs and for the contracted entities which will be used to
545 determine their performance and competitive value to the state.
546 Performance measures, benchmarks, and sanctions must be
547 developed in consultation with the legislative appropriations
548 committees and the appropriate substantive committees, and are
549 subject to the review and approval process provided in s.
550 216.177. The approved performance measures, standards, and
551 sanctions shall be included and made a part of the strategic
552 plan for contracts entered into for delivery of programs
553 authorized by this section.
554 4. Develop a 5-year statewide strategic plan. The strategic
555 plan must include, but need not be limited to:
556 a. Strategies for the promotion of business formation,
557 expansion, recruitment, and retention through aggressive
558 marketing, attraction of venture capital and finance
559 development, domestic trade, international development, and
560 export assistance, which lead to more and better jobs and higher
561 wages for all geographic regions, disadvantaged communities, and
562 populations of the state, including rural areas, minority
563 businesses, and urban core areas.
564 b. The development of realistic policies and programs to
565 further the economic diversity of the state, its regions, and
566 their associated industrial clusters.
567 c. Specific provisions for the stimulation of economic
568 development and job creation in rural areas and midsize cities
569 and counties of the state, including strategies for rural
570 marketing and the development of infrastructure in rural areas.
571 d. Provisions for the promotion of the successful long-term
572 economic development of the state with increased emphasis in
573 market research and information.
574 e. Plans for the generation of foreign investment in the
575 state which create jobs paying above-average wages and which
576 result in reverse investment in the state, including programs
577 that establish viable overseas markets, assist in meeting the
578 financing requirements of export-ready firms, broaden
579 opportunities for international joint venture relationships, use
580 the resources of academic and other institutions, coordinate
581 trade assistance and facilitation services, and facilitate
582 availability of and access to education and training programs
583 that assure requisite skills and competencies necessary to
584 compete successfully in the global marketplace.
585 f. The identification of business sectors that are of
586 current or future importance to the state’s economy and to the
587 state’s global business image, and development of specific
588 strategies to promote the development of such sectors.
589 g. Strategies for talent development necessary in the state
590 to encourage economic development growth, taking into account
591 factors such as the state’s talent supply chain, education and
592 training opportunities, and available workforce.
593 h. Strategies and plans to support this state’s defense,
594 space, and aerospace industries and the emerging complementary
595 business activities and industries that support the development
596 and growth of defense, space, and aerospace in this state.
597 5. Update the strategic plan every 5 years.
598 6. Involve CareerSource Florida, Inc.; direct-support
599 organizations of the department; local governments; the general
600 public; local and regional economic development organizations;
601 other local, state, and federal economic, international, and
602 workforce development entities; the business community; and
603 educational institutions to assist with the strategic plan.
604 7. Coordinate with the Florida Tourism Industry Marketing
605 Corporation in the development of the 4-year marketing plan
606 pursuant to s. 288.1226(13).
607 8. Administer and manage relationships, as appropriate,
608 with the entities and programs created pursuant to the Florida
609 Capital Formation Act, ss. 288.9621-288.96255.
610 (10) The department shall, by November 1 of each year,
611 submit an annual report to the Governor, the President of the
612 Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives on the
613 condition of the business climate and economic development in
614 the state.
615 (c) The report must incorporate annual reports of other
616 programs, including:
617 1. A detailed report of the performance of the Black
618 Business Loan Program and a cumulative summary of quarterly
619 report data required under s. 288.714.
620 2. The Rural Economic Development Initiative established
621 under s. 288.0656.
622 3. A detailed report of the performance of the Florida
623 Development Finance Corporation and a summary of the
624 corporation’s report required under s. 288.9610.
625 3.4. Information provided by Space Florida under s.
626 331.3051 and an analysis of the activities and accomplishments
627 of Space Florida.
628 Section 2. Subsection (5) is added to section 163.3168,
629 Florida Statutes, to read:
630 163.3168 Planning innovations and technical assistance.—
631 (5) When selecting applications for funding for technical
632 assistance, the state land planning agency shall give preference
633 to local governments located in a rural area of opportunity as
634 defined in s. 288.0656. The state land planning agency shall
635 consult with the Office of Rural Prosperity when awarding
636 funding pursuant to this section.
637 Section 3. Paragraph (i) is added to subsection (4) of
638 section 201.15, Florida Statutes, to read:
639 201.15 Distribution of taxes collected.—All taxes collected
640 under this chapter are hereby pledged and shall be first made
641 available to make payments when due on bonds issued pursuant to
642 s. 215.618 or s. 215.619, or any other bonds authorized to be
643 issued on a parity basis with such bonds. Such pledge and
644 availability for the payment of these bonds shall have priority
645 over any requirement for the costs of collection and enforcement
646 under this section. Before distribution pursuant to this
647 section, the Department of Revenue shall deduct amounts
648 necessary to pay the costs of the collection and enforcement of
649 the tax levied by this chapter. The costs may not be levied
650 against any portion of taxes pledged to debt service on bonds to
651 the extent that the costs are required to pay any amounts
652 relating to the bonds. All of the costs of the collection and
653 enforcement of the tax levied by this chapter shall be available
654 and transferred to the extent necessary to pay debt service and
655 any other amounts payable with respect to bonds authorized
656 before January 1, 2017, secured by revenues distributed pursuant
657 to this section. All taxes remaining after deduction of costs
658 shall be distributed as follows:
659 (4) After the required distributions to the Land
660 Acquisition Trust Fund pursuant to subsections (1) and (2), the
661 lesser of 8 percent of the remainder or $150 million in each
662 fiscal year shall be paid into the State Treasury to the credit
663 of the State Housing Trust Fund and shall be expended pursuant
664 to s. 420.50871. If 8 percent of the remainder is greater than
665 $150 million in any fiscal year, the difference between 8
666 percent of the remainder and $150 million shall be paid into the
667 State Treasury to the credit of the General Revenue Fund. The
668 remainder shall be distributed as follows:
669 (i) A total of $30 million shall be paid to the credit of
670 the State Transportation Trust Fund, which funds are exclusively
671 for the use of the Florida Arterial Road Modernization Program
672 as provided in s. 339.68.
673 Section 4. Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section
674 202.18, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
675 202.18 Allocation and disposition of tax proceeds.—The
676 proceeds of the communications services taxes remitted under
677 this chapter shall be treated as follows:
678 (2) The proceeds of the taxes remitted under s.
679 202.12(1)(b) shall be allocated as follows:
680 (c)1. After the distribution required under paragraph (b),
681 the remainder During each calendar year, the remaining portion
682 of the proceeds shall be transferred to the Local Government
683 Half-cent Sales Tax Clearing Trust Fund. Seventy percent of such
684 proceeds shall be and allocated in the same proportion as the
685 allocation of total receipts of the half-cent sales tax under s.
686 218.61 and the emergency distribution under s. 218.65 in the
687 prior state fiscal year. Thirty percent of such proceeds shall
688 be distributed pursuant to s. 218.67.
689 2. The proportion of the proceeds allocated based on the
690 emergency distribution under s. 218.65 shall be distributed
691 pursuant to s. 218.65.
692 3. In each calendar year, the proportion of the proceeds
693 allocated based on the half-cent sales tax under s. 218.61 shall
694 be allocated to each county in the same proportion as the
695 county’s percentage of total sales tax allocation for the prior
696 state fiscal year and distributed pursuant to s. 218.62.
697 4. The department shall distribute the appropriate amount
698 to each municipality and county each month at the same time that
699 local communications services taxes are distributed pursuant to
700 subsection (3).
701 Section 5. Paragraph (d) of subsection (6) of section
702 212.20, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
703 212.20 Funds collected, disposition; additional powers of
704 department; operational expense; refund of taxes adjudicated
705 unconstitutionally collected.—
706 (6) Distribution of all proceeds under this chapter and ss.
707 202.18(1)(b) and (2)(b) and 203.01(1)(a)3. is as follows:
708 (d) The proceeds of all other taxes and fees imposed
709 pursuant to this chapter or remitted pursuant to s. 202.18(1)(b)
710 and (2)(b) shall be distributed as follows:
711 1. In any fiscal year, the greater of $500 million, minus
712 an amount equal to 4.6 percent of the proceeds of the taxes
713 collected pursuant to chapter 201, or 5.2 percent of all other
714 taxes and fees imposed pursuant to this chapter or remitted
715 pursuant to s. 202.18(1)(b) and (2)(b) shall be deposited in
716 monthly installments into the General Revenue Fund.
717 2. After the distribution under subparagraph 1., 8.9744
718 percent of the amount remitted by a sales tax dealer located
719 within a participating county pursuant to s. 218.61 shall be
720 transferred into the Local Government Half-cent Sales Tax
721 Clearing Trust Fund. Beginning July 1, 2003, the amount to be
722 transferred shall be reduced by 0.1 percent, and the department
723 shall distribute this amount to the Public Employees Relations
724 Commission Trust Fund less $5,000 each month, which shall be
725 added to the amount calculated in subparagraph 3. and
726 distributed accordingly.
727 3. After the distribution under subparagraphs 1. and 2.,
728 0.0966 percent shall be transferred to the Local Government
729 Half-cent Sales Tax Clearing Trust Fund and distributed pursuant
730 to s. 218.65.
731 4. After the distributions under subparagraphs 1., 2., and
732 3., 2.0810 percent of the available proceeds shall be
733 transferred monthly to the Revenue Sharing Trust Fund for
734 Counties pursuant to s. 218.215.
735 5. After the distributions under subparagraphs 1., 2., and
736 3., 1.3653 percent of the available proceeds shall be
737 transferred monthly to the Revenue Sharing Trust Fund for
738 Municipalities pursuant to s. 218.215. If the total revenue to
739 be distributed pursuant to this subparagraph is at least as
740 great as the amount due from the Revenue Sharing Trust Fund for
741 Municipalities and the former Municipal Financial Assistance
742 Trust Fund in state fiscal year 1999-2000, no municipality shall
743 receive less than the amount due from the Revenue Sharing Trust
744 Fund for Municipalities and the former Municipal Financial
745 Assistance Trust Fund in state fiscal year 1999-2000. If the
746 total proceeds to be distributed are less than the amount
747 received in combination from the Revenue Sharing Trust Fund for
748 Municipalities and the former Municipal Financial Assistance
749 Trust Fund in state fiscal year 1999-2000, each municipality
750 shall receive an amount proportionate to the amount it was due
751 in state fiscal year 1999-2000.
752 6. After the distributions required under subparagraphs 1.
753 5., the greater of $50 million or 0.1438 percent of the
754 available proceeds shall be transferred in each fiscal year to
755 fiscally constrained counties pursuant to s. 218.67.
756 7. Of the remaining proceeds:
757 a. In each fiscal year, the sum of $29,915,500 shall be
758 divided into as many equal parts as there are counties in the
759 state, and one part shall be distributed to each county. The
760 distribution among the several counties must begin each fiscal
761 year on or before January 5th and continue monthly for a total
762 of 4 months. If a local or special law required that any moneys
763 accruing to a county in fiscal year 1999-2000 under the then
764 existing provisions of s. 550.135 be paid directly to the
765 district school board, special district, or a municipal
766 government, such payment must continue until the local or
767 special law is amended or repealed. The state covenants with
768 holders of bonds or other instruments of indebtedness issued by
769 local governments, special districts, or district school boards
770 before July 1, 2000, that it is not the intent of this
771 subparagraph to adversely affect the rights of those holders or
772 relieve local governments, special districts, or district school
773 boards of the duty to meet their obligations as a result of
774 previous pledges or assignments or trusts entered into which
775 obligated funds received from the distribution to county
776 governments under then-existing s. 550.135. This distribution
777 specifically is in lieu of funds distributed under s. 550.135
778 before July 1, 2000.
779 b. The department shall distribute $166,667 monthly to each
780 applicant certified as a facility for a new or retained
781 professional sports franchise pursuant to s. 288.1162. Up to
782 $41,667 shall be distributed monthly by the department to each
783 certified applicant as defined in s. 288.11621 for a facility
784 for a spring training franchise. However, not more than $416,670
785 may be distributed monthly in the aggregate to all certified
786 applicants for facilities for spring training franchises.
787 Distributions begin 60 days after such certification and
788 continue for not more than 30 years, except as otherwise
789 provided in s. 288.11621. A certified applicant identified in
790 this sub-subparagraph may not receive more in distributions than
791 expended by the applicant for the public purposes provided in s.
792 288.1162(5) or s. 288.11621(3).
793 c. The department shall distribute up to $83,333 monthly to
794 each certified applicant as defined in s. 288.11631 for a
795 facility used by a single spring training franchise, or up to
796 $166,667 monthly to each certified applicant as defined in s.
797 288.11631 for a facility used by more than one spring training
798 franchise. Monthly distributions begin 60 days after such
799 certification or July 1, 2016, whichever is later, and continue
800 for not more than 20 years to each certified applicant as
801 defined in s. 288.11631 for a facility used by a single spring
802 training franchise or not more than 25 years to each certified
803 applicant as defined in s. 288.11631 for a facility used by more
804 than one spring training franchise. A certified applicant
805 identified in this sub-subparagraph may not receive more in
806 distributions than expended by the applicant for the public
807 purposes provided in s. 288.11631(3).
808 d. The department shall distribute $15,333 monthly to the
809 State Transportation Trust Fund.
810 e.(I) On or before July 25, 2021, August 25, 2021, and
811 September 25, 2021, the department shall distribute $324,533,334
812 in each of those months to the Unemployment Compensation Trust
813 Fund, less an adjustment for refunds issued from the General
814 Revenue Fund pursuant to s. 443.131(3)(e)3. before making the
815 distribution. The adjustments made by the department to the
816 total distributions shall be equal to the total refunds made
817 pursuant to s. 443.131(3)(e)3. If the amount of refunds to be
818 subtracted from any single distribution exceeds the
819 distribution, the department may not make that distribution and
820 must subtract the remaining balance from the next distribution.
821 (II) Beginning July 2022, and on or before the 25th day of
822 each month, the department shall distribute $90 million monthly
823 to the Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund.
824 (III) If the ending balance of the Unemployment
825 Compensation Trust Fund exceeds $4,071,519,600 on the last day
826 of any month, as determined from United States Department of the
827 Treasury data, the Office of Economic and Demographic Research
828 shall certify to the department that the ending balance of the
829 trust fund exceeds such amount.
830 (IV) This sub-subparagraph is repealed, and the department
831 shall end monthly distributions under sub-sub-subparagraph (II),
832 on the date the department receives certification under sub-sub
833 subparagraph (III).
834 f. Beginning July 1, 2023, in each fiscal year, the
835 department shall distribute $27.5 million to the Florida
836 Agricultural Promotional Campaign Trust Fund under s. 571.26,
837 for further distribution in accordance with s. 571.265.
838 8.7. All other proceeds must remain in the General Revenue
839 Fund.
840 Section 6. Paragraph (h) of subsection (1) of section
841 215.971, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
842 215.971 Agreements funded with federal or state
843 assistance.—
844 (1) An agency agreement that provides state financial
845 assistance to a recipient or subrecipient, as those terms are
846 defined in s. 215.97, or that provides federal financial
847 assistance to a subrecipient, as defined by applicable United
848 States Office of Management and Budget circulars, must include
849 all of the following:
850 (h)1. If the agency agreement provides federal or state
851 financial assistance to a county or municipality that is a rural
852 community or rural area of opportunity as those terms are
853 defined in s. 288.0656(2), a provision allowing the agency to
854 provide for the payment of invoices to the county, municipality,
855 or rural area of opportunity as that term is defined in s.
856 288.0656(2), for verified and eligible performance that has been
857 completed in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth
858 in the agreement. This provision is not intended to require
859 reimbursement to the county, municipality, or rural area of
860 opportunity for invoices paid, but to allow the agency to
861 provide for the payment of invoices due. The agency shall
862 expedite such payment requests in order to facilitate the timely
863 payment of invoices received by the county, municipality, or
864 rural area of opportunity. This provision is included to
865 alleviate the financial hardships that certain rural counties
866 and municipalities encounter when administering agreements, and
867 must be exercised by the agency when a county or municipality
868 demonstrates financial hardship, to the extent that federal or
869 state law, rule, or other regulation allows such payments. This
870 paragraph may not be construed to alter or limit any other
871 provisions of federal or state law, rule, or other regulation.
872 2. By August 1, 2026, and each year thereafter, each state
873 agency shall report to the Office of Rural Prosperity
874 summarizing the implementation of this paragraph for the
875 preceding fiscal year. The Office of Rural Prosperity shall
876 summarize the information received pursuant to this paragraph in
877 its annual report as required in s. 288.013.
878 Section 7. Section 218.67, Florida Statutes, is amended to
879 read:
880 218.67 Distribution for fiscally constrained counties.—
881 (1) Each county that is entirely within a rural area of
882 opportunity as designated by the Governor pursuant to s.
883 288.0656 or each county for which the value of a mill will raise
884 no more than $10 $5 million in revenue, based on the taxable
885 value certified pursuant to s. 1011.62(4)(a)1.a., from the
886 previous July 1, shall be considered a fiscally constrained
887 county.
888 (2) Each fiscally constrained county government that
889 participates in the local government half-cent sales tax shall
890 be eligible to receive an additional distribution from the Local
891 Government Half-cent Sales Tax Clearing Trust Fund, as provided
892 in s. 212.20(6)(d)6. s. 202.18(2)(c)1., in addition to its
893 regular monthly distribution provided under this part and any
894 emergency or supplemental distribution under s. 218.65.
895 (3) The amount to be distributed to each fiscally
896 constrained county shall be determined by the Department of
897 Revenue at the beginning of the fiscal year, using the prior
898 fiscal year’s sales and use tax collections from the most recent
899 fiscal year that reports 12 months of collections July 1 taxable
900 value certified pursuant to s. 1011.62(4)(a)1.a., tax data,
901 population as defined in s. 218.21, and the most current
902 calendar year per capita personal income published by the Bureau
903 of Economic Analysis of the United States Department of Commerce
904 millage rate levied for the prior fiscal year. The amount
905 distributed shall be allocated based upon the following factors:
906 (a) The contribution-to-revenue relative revenue-raising
907 capacity factor for each participating county shall equal 100
908 multiplied by a quotient, the numerator of which is the county’s
909 population and the denominator of which is the state sales and
910 use tax collections attributable to the county be the ability of
911 the eligible county to generate ad valorem revenues from 1 mill
912 of taxation on a per capita basis. A county that raises no more
913 than $25 per capita from 1 mill shall be assigned a value of 1;
914 a county that raises more than $25 but no more than $30 per
915 capita from 1 mill shall be assigned a value of 0.75; and a
916 county that raises more than $30 but no more than $50 per capita
917 from 1 mill shall be assigned a value of 0.5. No value shall be
918 assigned to counties that raise more than $50 per capita from 1
919 mill of ad valorem taxation.
920 (b) The personal-income local-effort factor shall equal a
921 quotient, the numerator of which is the median per capita
922 personal income of participating counties and the denominator of
923 which is the county’s per capita personal income be a measure of
924 the relative level of local effort of the eligible county as
925 indicated by the millage rate levied for the prior fiscal year.
926 The local-effort factor shall be the most recently adopted
927 countywide operating millage rate for each eligible county
928 multiplied by 0.1.
929 (c) Each eligible county’s proportional allocation of the
930 total amount available to be distributed to all of the eligible
931 counties shall be in the same proportion as the sum of the
932 county’s two factors is to the sum of the two factors for all
933 eligible counties. The proportional rate computation must be
934 carried to the fifth decimal place, and the amount to distribute
935 to each county must be rounded to the next whole dollar amount.
936 The counties that are eligible to receive an allocation under
937 this subsection and the amount available to be distributed to
938 such counties do shall not include counties participating in the
939 phaseout period under subsection (4) or the amounts they remain
940 eligible to receive during the phaseout.
941 (4) For those counties that no longer qualify under the
942 requirements of subsection (1) after the effective date of this
943 act, there shall be a 2-year phaseout period. Beginning on July
944 1 of the year following the year in which the value of a mill
945 for that county exceeds $10 $5 million in revenue, the county
946 shall receive two-thirds of the amount received in the prior
947 year, and beginning on July 1 of the second year following the
948 year in which the value of a mill for that county exceeds $10 $5
949 million in revenue, the county shall receive one-third of the
950 amount received in the last year that the county qualified as a
951 fiscally constrained county. Following the 2-year phaseout
952 period, the county is shall no longer be eligible to receive any
953 distributions under this section unless the county can be
954 considered a fiscally constrained county as provided in
955 subsection (1).
956 (5)(a) The revenues received under this section must be
957 allocated may be used by a county to be used for the following
958 purposes:
959 1. Fifty percent for public safety, including salary
960 expenditures for law enforcement officers or correctional
961 officers, as those terms are defined in s. 943.10(1) and (2),
962 respectively, firefighters as defined in s. 633.102, or
963 emergency medical technicians or paramedics as those terms are
964 defined in s. 401.23.
965 2. Thirty percent for infrastructure needs.
966 3. Twenty percent for any public purpose.
967 (b) The revenues received under this section any public
968 purpose, except that such revenues may not be used to pay debt
969 service on bonds, notes, certificates of participation, or any
970 other forms of indebtedness.
971 Section 8. Subsection (6) is added to section 288.0001,
972 Florida Statutes, to read:
973 288.0001 Economic Development Programs Evaluation.—The
974 Office of Economic and Demographic Research and the Office of
975 Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA)
976 shall develop and present to the Governor, the President of the
977 Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the
978 chairs of the legislative appropriations committees the Economic
979 Development Programs Evaluation.
980 (6)(a) The Office of Economic and Demographic Research and
981 OPPAGA shall prepare a report on the impact of the Florida
982 Statutes on rural communities. Specifically, the report must
983 include the following:
984 1. A review of definitions in the Florida Statutes of terms
985 such as “rural community,” “rural area of opportunity,” and
986 other similar terms used to define rural areas of this state,
987 including population-based references, to assess the adequacy of
988 the current statutory framework in defining these areas. The
989 analysis must include, but need not be limited to:
990 a. Evaluation of whether current provisions properly
991 distinguish these communities or areas from more urban and
992 suburban parts of this state;
993 b. Consideration of updates to the definitions and
994 references to classify additional rural areas, such as growing
995 communities, unincorporated areas, or rural communities by
996 design; and
997 c. Study of appropriate metrics to be used to describe
998 rural communities or areas, such as population, geographic,
999 demographic, or other metrics, or combinations thereof.
1000 2. A survey of local governments meeting the statutory
1001 definition of “rural community” or “rural area of opportunity”
1002 to assess the benefits to the local government of being
1003 identified as such and any perceived unmet needs in the
1004 implementation of current statutory provisions designed to
1005 support rural communities or areas.
1006 3. An analysis of state grant programs and recurring
1007 appropriations that explicitly benefit rural communities or
1008 areas, including, but not limited to, program purpose, funding
1009 amounts, participation rates, and consistency with peer-reviewed
1010 studies on effective economic programs for these areas.
1011 (b) Upon request, the Office of Economic and Demographic
1012 Research and OPPAGA must be provided with all data necessary to
1013 complete the report, including any confidential data, by any
1014 entity with information related to this review. The offices may
1015 collaborate on all data collection and analysis.
1016 (c) The Office of Economic and Demographic Research and
1017 OPPAGA shall submit a report to the President of the Senate and
1018 the Speaker of the House of Representatives by December 31,
1019 2025. The report must provide recommendations to address any
1020 findings, including any changes in statutory definitions or
1021 references to rural communities or areas, opportunities to
1022 enhance state support to rural communities or areas, outcome
1023 measures or other criteria that may be used to examine the
1024 effectiveness of state grant programs for rural communities or
1025 areas, and adjustments to program design, including changes to
1026 increase participation in state grant programs for rural
1027 communities or areas.
1028 (d) This subsection expires July 1, 2026.
1029 Section 9. Present paragraphs (d) and (e) of subsection (7)
1030 of section 288.001, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as
1031 paragraphs (e) and (f), respectively, and a new paragraph (d) is
1032 added to that subsection, to read:
1033 288.001 The Florida Small Business Development Center
1034 Network.—
1035 (7) ADDITIONAL STATE FUNDS; USES; PAY-PER-PERFORMANCE
1036 INCENTIVES; STATEWIDE SERVICE; SERVICE ENHANCEMENTS; BEST
1037 PRACTICES; ELIGIBILITY.—
1038 (d) Notwithstanding paragraphs (a), (b), and (c), the
1039 network shall use funds directly appropriated for the specific
1040 purpose of expanding service in rural communities, as defined in
1041 s. 288.0656, in addition to any funds allocated by the network
1042 from other sources. The network shall use the funds to develop
1043 an activity plan focused on network consultants and resources in
1044 rural communities. In collaboration with regional economic
1045 development organizations as defined in s. 288.018, the plan
1046 must provide for either full- or part-time consultants to be
1047 available for at least 20 hours per week in rural areas or be
1048 permanently stationed in rural areas. This may include
1049 establishing a circuit in specific rural locations to ensure the
1050 consultants’ availability on a regular basis. By using the funds
1051 to create a regular presence in rural areas, the network can
1052 strengthen community collaboration, raise awareness of available
1053 resources to provide opportunities for new business development
1054 or existing business growth, and make professional experience,
1055 education, and business information available in these essential
1056 communities. The network may dedicate funds to facilitate local
1057 or regional events that focus on small business topics, provide
1058 consulting services, and leverage partner organizations, such as
1059 the regional economic development organizations, local workforce
1060 development boards as described in s. 445.07, and Florida
1061 College System institutions.
1062 Section 10. Section 288.007, Florida Statutes, is amended
1063 to read:
1064 288.007 Inventory of communities seeking to recruit
1065 businesses.—By September 30 of each year, a county or
1066 municipality that has a population of at least 25,000 or its
1067 local economic development organization, and each local
1068 government within a rural area of opportunity as defined in s.
1069 288.0656 or its local economic development organization, shall
1070 must submit to the department a brief overview of the strengths,
1071 services, and economic development incentives that its community
1072 offers. The local government or its local economic development
1073 organization also shall must identify any industries that it is
1074 encouraging to locate or relocate to its area. Unless otherwise
1075 required pursuant to this section, a county or municipality
1076 having a population of 25,000 or less fewer or its local
1077 economic development organization seeking to recruit businesses
1078 may submit information as required in this section and may
1079 participate in any activity or initiative resulting from the
1080 collection, analysis, and reporting of the information to the
1081 department pursuant to this section.
1082 Section 11. Section 288.013, Florida Statutes, is created
1083 to read:
1084 288.013 Office of Rural Prosperity.—
1085 (1) The Legislature finds that the unique characteristics
1086 and nature of the rural communities in this state are integral
1087 to making this state an attractive place to visit, work, and
1088 live. Further, the Legislature finds that building a prosperous
1089 rural economy and vibrant rural communities is in the best
1090 interest of this state. Rural prosperity is integral to
1091 supporting this state’s infrastructure, housing, and
1092 agricultural and food-processing needs, as well as promoting the
1093 health and advancement of the overall economy of this state. It
1094 is of importance to the state that its rural areas are able to
1095 grow, whether locally or in regional partnerships. To better
1096 serve rural communities, and in recognition of rural Florida’s
1097 unique challenges and opportunities, the Office of Rural
1098 Prosperity is established to ensure these efforts are
1099 coordinated, focused, and effective.
1100 (2) The Office of Rural Prosperity is created within the
1101 Department of Commerce for the purpose of supporting rural
1102 communities by helping rural stakeholders navigate available
1103 programs and resources and representing rural interests across
1104 state government.
1105 (3) The Governor shall appoint a director to lead the
1106 office, subject to confirmation by the Senate. The director
1107 shall report to the secretary of the department and shall serve
1108 at the pleasure of the secretary.
1109 (4) The office shall do all of the following:
1110 (a) Serve as the state’s point of contact for rural local
1111 governments.
1112 (b) Administer the Rural Economic Development Initiative
1113 (REDI) pursuant to s. 288.0656.
1114 (c) Provide training and technical assistance to rural
1115 local governments on a broad range of community and economic
1116 development activities. The training and technical assistance
1117 may be offered using communications technology or in person and
1118 must be recorded and posted to the office’s website. The
1119 training and technical assistance must include, at a minimum,
1120 the following topics:
1121 1. How to access state and federal resources, including
1122 training on the online rural resource directory required under
1123 paragraph (d).
1124 2. Best practices relating to comprehensive planning,
1125 economic development, and land development in rural communities.
1126 3. Strategies to address management and administrative
1127 capacity challenges unique to rural local governments.
1128 4. Requirements of, and updates on recent changes to, the
1129 Community Planning Act under s. 163.3161.
1130 5. Updates on other recent state and federal laws affecting
1131 rural local governments.
1132 (d) Create and maintain an online rural resource directory
1133 to serve as an interactive tool to navigate the various state
1134 and federal resources, tools, and services available to rural
1135 local governments. The office shall regularly maintain the
1136 resource directory and, to the greatest extent possible, include
1137 up-to-date information on state and federal programs, resources,
1138 tools, and services that address the needs of rural communities
1139 in all areas of governance. Each state agency shall routinely
1140 provide information and updates to the office for maintenance of
1141 the resource directory. The resource directory must allow users
1142 to search by indicators, such as agency name, resource type, or
1143 topic, and include a notification function to allow users to
1144 receive alerts when new or modified resources are available. To
1145 the greatest extent possible, the resource directory must
1146 include information on financial match requirements for the
1147 state and federal programs listed in the directory.
1148 (5)(a) By October 1, 2025, the office shall establish and
1149 staff seven regional rural community liaison centers across this
1150 state for the purpose of providing specialized in-person state
1151 support to local governments in rural areas of opportunity as
1152 defined in s. 288.0656. The department shall by rule divide this
1153 state into seven regions and assign a regional rural community
1154 liaison center to each region. Each liaison center shall support
1155 the local governments within its geographic territory and shall
1156 be staffed with at least two full-time department personnel. At
1157 a minimum, liaison centers shall have the following powers,
1158 duties, and functions:
1159 1. Work with local governments to plan and achieve goals
1160 for local or regional growth, economic development, and rural
1161 prosperity.
1162 2. Facilitate local government access to state and federal
1163 resources, such as grants, loans, and other aid or resources.
1164 3. Advise local governments on available waivers of program
1165 requirements, including financial match waivers or reductions,
1166 for projects using state or federal funds through the Rural
1167 Economic Development Initiative under s. 288.0656.
1168 4. Coordinate local government technical assistance needs
1169 with the department and other state or federal agencies.
1170 5. Promote model ordinances, policies, and strategies
1171 related to economic development.
1172 6. Assist local governments with regulatory and reporting
1173 compliance.
1174 (b) To the greatest extent possible, the regional rural
1175 community liaison centers shall coordinate with local and
1176 regional governmental entities, regional economic development
1177 organizations as defined in s. 288.018, and other appropriate
1178 entities to establish a network to foster community-driven
1179 solutions that promote viable and sustainable rural communities.
1180 (c) The regional rural community liaison centers shall
1181 regularly engage with the Rural Economic Development Initiative
1182 established in s. 288.0656, and at least one staff member from
1183 each liaison center shall attend, either in person or by means
1184 of electronic communication, the monthly meetings required by s.
1185 288.0656(6)(c).
1186 (6) By December 1, 2025, and each year thereafter, the
1187 director of the office shall submit to the Administration
1188 Commission in the Executive Office of the Governor a written
1189 report describing the office’s operations and accomplishments
1190 for the preceding year, inclusive of the Rural Economic
1191 Development Initiative report required by s. 288.0656(8). In
1192 consultation with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer
1193 Services, the office shall also include in the annual report
1194 recommendations for policies, programs, and funding to further
1195 support the needs of rural communities in this state. The office
1196 shall submit the annual report to the President of the Senate
1197 and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by December 1 of
1198 each year and publish the annual report on the office’s website.
1199 The director shall present, in person at the next scheduled
1200 Administration Commission meeting, detailed information from the
1201 annual report required by this subsection.
1202 (7)(a) The Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government
1203 Accountability (OPPAGA) shall review the effectiveness of the
1204 office by December 15, 2026, and each year thereafter until
1205 2028. Beginning in 2029, OPPAGA shall review and evaluate the
1206 office every 3 years and shall submit a report based on its
1207 findings. Each report must recommend policy and statutory
1208 modifications for consideration by the Legislature. OPPAGA shall
1209 submit each report to the President of the Senate and the
1210 Speaker of the House of Representatives pursuant to the
1211 schedule.
1212 (b) OPPAGA shall review strategies implemented by other
1213 states on rural community preservation, enhancement, and
1214 revitalization and report on their effectiveness and potential
1215 for implementation in this state. OPPAGA shall include its
1216 findings in its report to the President of the Senate and the
1217 Speaker of the House of Representatives by December 15, 2027,
1218 and every 3 years thereafter.
1219 (c)1. OPPAGA shall review each state-funded or state
1220 administered grant and loan program available to local
1221 governments to:
1222 a. Identify any specified local government financial match
1223 requirements and whether any portion of a match may be waived or
1224 is required to be waived, pursuant to law, and programs where a
1225 financial match waiver may be appropriate for rural local
1226 government applicants, if not contemplated by law.
1227 b. Identify grant and loan application evaluation criteria,
1228 including scoring procedures, for programs that may be perceived
1229 to be overly burdensome for rural local government applicants,
1230 and whether special accommodations or preferences for rural
1231 local governments may be appropriate.
1232 2. OPPAGA shall produce a report based on its review and
1233 submit the report to the President of the Senate and the Speaker
1234 of the House of Representatives by December 15, 2026.
1235 3. This paragraph expires June 30, 2027.
1236 Section 12. Section 288.014, Florida Statutes, is created
1237 to read:
1238 288.014 Renaissance Grants Program.—
1239 (1) The Legislature finds that it has traditionally
1240 provided programs to assist rural communities with economic
1241 development and enhance their ability to attract businesses and
1242 that, by providing that extra component of economic viability,
1243 rural communities are able to attract new businesses and grow
1244 existing ones. However, the Legislature finds that a subset of
1245 rural communities has decreased in population over the past
1246 decade, contributing to a decline in local business activity and
1247 economic development. The Legislature further finds that the
1248 state must transform its assistance to these specific rural
1249 communities to help them achieve a necessary precursor of
1250 economic viability. The Legislature further finds that the
1251 approach intended by the creation of renaissance grants is to
1252 focus on reversing the economic deterioration in rural
1253 communities by retaining and attracting residents by giving them
1254 a reason to stay, which is the impetus of natural economic
1255 growth, business opportunities, and increased quality of life.
1256 (2) The Office of Rural Prosperity within the department
1257 shall administer the Renaissance Grants Program to provide block
1258 grants to eligible counties. By October 1, 2025, the Office of
1259 Economic and Demographic Research shall certify to the Office of
1260 Rural Prosperity which counties are growth-impeded. For the
1261 purposes of this section, “growth-impeded” means a county that,
1262 as of the most recent population estimate, has had a declining
1263 population over the last 10 years. After an initial
1264 certification, the Office of Economic and Demographic Research
1265 shall annually certify whether the county remains growth
1266 impeded, until the county has 3 consecutive years of population
1267 growth. Upon such certification of population growth, the county
1268 is eligible to participate in the program for 1 additional year
1269 in order for the county to prepare for the end of block grant
1270 funding.
1271 (3)(a) Each participating county shall enter into an
1272 agreement with the Office of Rural Prosperity to receive the
1273 block grant. Each county has broad authority to design its
1274 specific plan to achieve population growth within the broad
1275 parameters identified in this section. The Office of Rural
1276 Prosperity may not determine the manner in which the county
1277 implements the block grant. However, regional rural community
1278 liaison center staff shall provide assistance in developing the
1279 county’s plan, upon request.
1280 (b) Each participating county shall report annually to the
1281 Office of Rural Prosperity on activities undertaken,
1282 intergovernmental agreements entered into, and other information
1283 as required by the office.
1284 (c) Each participating county shall receive $1 million from
1285 the funds appropriated to the program. Counties participating in
1286 the program shall make all attempts to limit expenses for
1287 administrative costs, consistent with the need for prudent
1288 management and accountability in the use of public funds. Each
1289 county may contribute other funds for block grant purposes,
1290 including local, state, or federal grant funds, or seek out in
1291 kind or financial contributions from private or public sources
1292 to assist in fulfilling the activities undertaken.
1293 (4)(a) A participating county shall hire and retain a
1294 renaissance coordinator and may use block grant funds for this
1295 purpose. The renaissance coordinator is responsible for:
1296 1. Ensuring that block grant funds are used as provided in
1297 this section;
1298 2. Coordinating with other local governments, school
1299 boards, Florida College System institutions, or other entities;
1300 and
1301 3. Reporting as necessary to the state, including
1302 information necessary pursuant to subsection (7).
1303 (b) The Office of Rural Prosperity regional rural community
1304 liaison center staff shall provide assistance, upon request, and
1305 training to the renaissance coordinator to ensure successful
1306 implementation of the block grant.
1307 (5) A participating county shall design a plan to make
1308 targeted investments in the community to achieve population
1309 growth and increase the economic vitality of the community. The
1310 plan must include the following key features for use of the
1311 state support:
1312 (a) Technology centers with extended hours located within
1313 schools or on school premises, administered by the local school
1314 board, for such schools which provide extended hours and support
1315 for access by students.
1316 (b) Facilities that colocate adult day care with child care
1317 facilities. The site-sharing facilities must be managed to also
1318 provide opportunities for direct interaction between generations
1319 and increase the health and well-being of both younger and older
1320 participants, reduce social isolation, and create cost and time
1321 efficiencies for working family members. The regional rural
1322 community liaison center staff of the Office of Rural Prosperity
1323 shall assist the county, upon request, with bringing to the
1324 Rural Economic Development Initiative or directly to the
1325 appropriate state agency recommendations necessary to streamline
1326 any required state permits, licenses, regulations, or other
1327 requirements.
1328 (c) Technology labs managed in agreement with the nearest
1329 Florida College System institution or a career center as
1330 established under s. 1001.44. Repurposing vacant industrial
1331 sites or existing office space must be given priority in the
1332 selection of lab locations. Each local technology lab must be
1333 staffed and open for extended hours with the capacity to
1334 provide:
1335 1. Access to trainers and equipment necessary for users to
1336 earn various certificates or online degrees in technology;
1337 2. Hands-on assistance with applying for appropriate remote
1338 work opportunities; and
1339 3. Studio space with equipment for graduates and other
1340 qualifying residents to perform remote work that is based on the
1341 use of technology. Collaboration with community partners,
1342 including the local workforce development board as described in
1343 s. 445.007, to provide training opportunities, in-kind support
1344 such as transportation to and from the lab, financing of
1345 equipment for in-home use, or basic maintenance of such
1346 equipment is required.
1347 (6) In addition to the hiring of a renaissance coordinator,
1348 a participating county shall develop intergovernmental
1349 agreements for shared responsibilities with its municipalities,
1350 school board, and Florida College System institution or career
1351 center and enter into necessary contracts with providers and
1352 community partners in order to implement the plan.
1353 (7)(a) Every 2 years, the Auditor General shall conduct an
1354 operational audit as defined in s. 11.45 of each county’s grant
1355 activities, beginning in 2026.
1356 (b) On December 31, 2026, and every year thereafter, the
1357 Office of Economic and Demographic Research shall submit an
1358 annual report of renaissance block grant recipients by county to
1359 the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
1360 Representatives. The report must provide key economic indicators
1361 that measure progress in altering longer-term trends in the
1362 county. The Office of Rural Prosperity shall provide the Office
1363 of Economic and Demographic Research with information as
1364 requested to complete the report.
1365 (8) Notwithstanding s. 216.301, funds appropriated for the
1366 purposes of this section are not subject to reversion.
1367 (9) This section expires June 30, 2040.
1368 Section 13. Section 288.0175, Florida Statutes, is created
1369 to read:
1370 288.0175 Public Infrastructure Smart Technology Grant
1371 Program.—
1372 (1) The Public Infrastructure Smart Technology Grant
1373 Program is established within the Office of Rural Prosperity
1374 within the department to fund and support the development of
1375 public infrastructure smart technology projects in communities
1376 located in rural areas of opportunity, subject to legislative
1377 appropriation.
1378 (2) As used in this section, the term:
1379 (a) “Public infrastructure smart technology” means systems
1380 and applications that use connectivity, data analytics, and
1381 automation to improve public infrastructure by increasing
1382 efficiency, enhancing public services, and promoting sustainable
1383 development.
1384 (b) “Rural area of opportunity” has the same meaning as in
1385 s. 288.0656.
1386 (c) “Smart technology lead organization” means a not-for
1387 profit corporation organized under s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal
1388 Revenue Code which has been in existence for at least 3 years
1389 and specializes in smart region planning.
1390 (3)(a) The Office of Rural Prosperity shall contract with
1391 one or more smart technology lead organizations to administer
1392 the grant program for the purpose of deploying public
1393 infrastructure smart technology in rural communities. In
1394 accordance with the terms required by the office, the smart
1395 technology lead organization shall provide grants to counties
1396 and municipalities located within a rural area of opportunity
1397 for public infrastructure smart technology projects.
1398 (b) The office’s contract with a smart technology lead
1399 organization must specify the contract deliverables, including
1400 financial reports and other reports due the office, timeframes
1401 for achieving contractual obligations, and any other
1402 requirements the office determines are necessary. The contract
1403 must require the smart technology lead organization to do the
1404 following:
1405 1. Collaborate with counties and municipalities located in
1406 rural areas of opportunity to identify opportunities for local
1407 governments to institute cost-effective smart technology
1408 solutions for improving public services and infrastructure.
1409 2. Provide technical assistance to counties and
1410 municipalities located in rural areas of opportunity in
1411 developing plans for public infrastructure smart technology
1412 projects.
1413 3. Assist counties and municipalities located in rural
1414 areas of opportunity in connecting with other communities,
1415 companies, and other entities to leverage the impact of each
1416 public infrastructure smart technology project.
1417 (4) The office shall include in its annual report required
1418 by s. 288.013(6) a description of the projects funded under this
1419 section.
1420 Section 14. Subsections (1), (2), and (4) of section
1421 288.018, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
1422 288.018 Regional Rural Development Grants Program.—
1423 (1)(a) For the purposes of this section, the term “regional
1424 economic development organization” means an economic development
1425 organization located in or contracted to serve a rural area of
1426 opportunity, as defined in s. 288.0656 s. 288.0656(2)(d).
1427 (b) Subject to appropriation, the Office of Rural
1428 Prosperity department shall establish a grant program to provide
1429 funding to regional economic development organizations for the
1430 purpose of building the professional capacity of those
1431 organizations. Building the professional capacity of a regional
1432 economic development organization includes hiring professional
1433 staff to develop, deliver, and provide needed economic
1434 development professional services, including technical
1435 assistance, education and leadership development, marketing, and
1436 project recruitment. Grants may also be used by a regional
1437 economic development organization to provide technical
1438 assistance to local governments, local economic development
1439 organizations, and existing and prospective businesses.
1440 (c) A regional economic development organization may apply
1441 annually to the office department for a grant. The office
1442 department is authorized to approve, on an annual basis, grants
1443 to such regional economic development organizations. The office
1444 may award a maximum amount of $50,000 in a year to maximum
1445 amount an organization may receive in any year will be $50,000,
1446 or $250,000 each to for any three regional economic development
1447 organizations that serve an entire region of a rural area of
1448 opportunity designated pursuant to s. 288.0656(7) if they are
1449 recognized by the office department as serving such a region.
1450 (2) In approving the participants, the office department
1451 shall require the following:
1452 (a) Documentation of official commitments of support from
1453 each of the units of local government represented by the
1454 regional organization.
1455 (b) Demonstration that the organization is in existence and
1456 actively involved in economic development activities serving the
1457 region.
1458 (c) Demonstration of the manner in which the organization
1459 is or will coordinate its efforts with those of other local and
1460 state organizations.
1461 (4) Except as otherwise provided in the General
1462 Appropriations Act, the office department may expend up to
1463 $750,000 each fiscal year from funds appropriated to the Rural
1464 Community Development Revolving Loan Fund for the purposes
1465 outlined in this section.
1466 Section 15. Section 288.019, Florida Statutes, is amended
1467 to read:
1468 288.019 Rural considerations in grant review and evaluation
1469 processes; financial match waiver or reduction.—
1470 (1) Notwithstanding any other law, and to the fullest
1471 extent possible, each agency and organization the member
1472 agencies and organizations of the Rural Economic Development
1473 Initiative (REDI) as defined in s. 288.0656 s. 288.0656(6)(a)
1474 shall review:
1475 (a) All grant and loan application evaluation criteria and
1476 scoring procedures to ensure the fullest access for rural
1477 communities counties as defined in s. 288.0656 s. 288.0656(2) to
1478 resources available throughout the state; and
1479 (b) The financial match requirements for projects in rural
1480 communities.
1481 (2)(1) Each REDI agency and organization shall consider the
1482 impact on and ability of rural communities to meet and be
1483 competitive under such criteria, scoring, and requirements. Upon
1484 review, each REDI agency and organization shall review all
1485 evaluation and scoring procedures and develop a proposal for
1486 modifications to those procedures which minimize the financial
1487 and resource impact to a rural community, including waiver or
1488 reduction of any required financial match requirements impact of
1489 a project within a rural area.
1490 (a)(2) Evaluation criteria and scoring procedures must
1491 provide for an appropriate ranking, when ranking is a component
1492 of the program, based on the proportionate impact that projects
1493 have on a rural area when compared with similar project impacts
1494 on an urban area. Additionally,
1495 (3) evaluation criteria and scoring procedures must
1496 recognize the disparity of available fiscal resources for an
1497 equal level of financial support from an urban county or
1498 municipality and a rural county or municipality.
1499 (a) The evaluation criteria should weight contribution in
1500 proportion to the amount of funding available at the local
1501 level.
1502 (b) Match requirements must be waived or reduced for rural
1503 communities. When appropriate, an in-kind match must should be
1504 allowed and applied as a financial match when a rural community
1505 county is experiencing economic financial distress as defined in
1506 s. 288.0656 through elevated unemployment at a rate in excess of
1507 the state’s average by 5 percentage points or because of the
1508 loss of its ad valorem base. Donations of land, though usually
1509 not recognized as an in-kind match, may be treated as such. As
1510 appropriate, each agency and organization that applies for or
1511 receives federal funding must request federal approval to waive
1512 or reduce the financial match requirements, if any, for projects
1513 in rural communities.
1514 (3)(4) For existing programs, The proposal modified
1515 evaluation criteria and scoring procedure must be submitted
1516 delivered to the Office of Rural Prosperity department for
1517 distribution to the REDI agencies and organizations. The REDI
1518 agencies and organizations shall review and make comments and
1519 recommendations that. Future rules, programs, evaluation
1520 criteria, and scoring processes must be brought before a REDI
1521 meeting for review, discussion, and recommendation to allow
1522 rural communities counties fuller access to the state’s
1523 resources.
1524 (4) Each REDI agency and organization shall ensure that
1525 related administrative rules or policies are modified, as
1526 necessary, to reflect the finalized proposal and that
1527 information about the authorized wavier or reduction is included
1528 in the online rural resource directory of the Office of Rural
1529 Prosperity required in s. 288.013(4)(d).
1530 (5) The rural liaison from the related regional district
1531 shall assist the rural community to make requests of waiver or
1532 reduction of match.
1533 Section 16. Subsection (3) is added to section 288.021,
1534 Florida Statutes, to read:
1535 288.021 Economic development liaison.—
1536 (3) When practicable, the staff member appointed as the
1537 economic development liaison shall also serve as the agency
1538 representative for the Rural Economic Development Initiative
1539 pursuant to s. 288.0656.
1540 Section 17. Section 288.065, Florida Statutes, is amended
1541 to read:
1542 288.065 Rural Community Development Revolving Loan Fund.—
1543 (1) The Rural Community Development Revolving Loan Fund
1544 Program is established within the Office of Rural Prosperity
1545 department to facilitate the use of existing federal, state, and
1546 local financial resources by providing local governments with
1547 financial assistance to further promote the economic viability
1548 of rural communities. These funds may be used to finance
1549 initiatives directed toward maintaining or developing the
1550 economic base of rural communities, especially initiatives
1551 addressing employment opportunities for residents of these
1552 communities.
1553 (2)(a) The program shall provide for long-term loans, loan
1554 guarantees, and loan loss reserves to units of local
1555 governments, or economic development organizations substantially
1556 underwritten by a unit of local government.,
1557 (b) For purposes of this section, the term “unit of local
1558 government” means:
1559 1. A county within counties with a population populations
1560 of 75,000 or less. fewer, or within any
1561 2. A county with a population of 125,000 or less fewer
1562 which is contiguous to a county with a population of 75,000 or
1563 less. fewer
1564 3. A municipality within a county described in subparagraph
1565 1. or subparagraph 2.
1566 4. A county or municipality within a rural area of
1567 opportunity.
1568
1569 For purposes of this paragraph, population is determined in
1570 accordance with the most recent official estimates pursuant to
1571 s. 186.901 and must include those residing in incorporated and
1572 unincorporated areas of a county, based on the most recent
1573 official population estimate as determined under s. 186.901,
1574 including those residing in incorporated areas and those
1575 residing in unincorporated areas of the county, or to units of
1576 local government, or economic development organizations
1577 substantially underwritten by a unit of local government, within
1578 a rural area of opportunity.
1579 (c)(b) Requests for loans must shall be made by application
1580 to the office department. Loans must shall be made pursuant to
1581 agreements specifying the terms and conditions agreed to between
1582 the applicant and the office department. The loans are shall be
1583 the legal obligations of the applicant.
1584 (d)(c) All repayments of principal and interest shall be
1585 returned to the loan fund and made available for loans to other
1586 applicants. However, in a rural area of opportunity designated
1587 under s. 288.0656 by the Governor, and upon approval by the
1588 office department, repayments of principal and interest may be
1589 retained by the applicant if such repayments are dedicated and
1590 matched to fund regionally based economic development
1591 organizations representing the rural area of opportunity.
1592 (3) The office department shall manage the fund,
1593 establishing loan practices that must include, but are not
1594 limited to, procedures for establishing loan interest rates,
1595 uses of funding, application procedures, and application review
1596 procedures. The office has department shall have final approval
1597 authority for any loan under this section.
1598 (4) Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 216.301, funds
1599 appropriated for this loan fund may purpose shall not be subject
1600 to reversion.
1601 (5) The office shall include in its annual report required
1602 under s. 288.013 detailed information about the fund, including
1603 loans made during the previous fiscal year, loans active, loans
1604 terminated or repaid, and the amount of funds not obligated as
1605 of 14 days before the date the report is due.
1606 Section 18. Subsections (1), (2), and (3) of section
1607 288.0655, Florida Statutes, are amended, and subsection (6) is
1608 added to that section, to read:
1609 288.0655 Rural Infrastructure Fund.—
1610 (1) There is created within the Office of Rural Prosperity
1611 department the Rural Infrastructure Fund to facilitate the
1612 planning, preparing, and financing of infrastructure projects in
1613 rural communities which will encourage job creation, capital
1614 investment, and the strengthening and diversification of rural
1615 economies by promoting tourism, trade, and economic development.
1616 Grants under this program may be awarded to a unit of local
1617 government within a rural community or rural area of opportunity
1618 as defined in s. 288.0656; or to a regional economic development
1619 organization, a unit of local government, or an economic
1620 development organization substantially underwritten by a unit of
1621 local government for an infrastructure project located within an
1622 unincorporated area that has a population of 15,000 or less, has
1623 been in existence for 100 year or more, is contiguous to a rural
1624 community, and has been adversely affected by a natural disaster
1625 or presents a unique economic development opportunity of
1626 regional impact.
1627 (2)(a) Funds appropriated by the Legislature shall be
1628 distributed by the office department through grant programs that
1629 maximize the use of federal, local, and private resources,
1630 including, but not limited to, those available under the Small
1631 Cities Community Development Block Grant Program.
1632 (b) To facilitate access of rural communities and rural
1633 areas of opportunity as defined by the Rural Economic
1634 Development Initiative to infrastructure funding programs of the
1635 Federal Government, such as those offered by the United States
1636 Department of Agriculture and the United States Department of
1637 Commerce, and state programs, including those offered by Rural
1638 Economic Development Initiative agencies, and to facilitate
1639 local government or private infrastructure funding efforts, the
1640 office department may award grants for up to 75 percent of the
1641 total infrastructure project cost, or up to 100 percent of the
1642 total infrastructure project cost for a project located in a
1643 rural community as defined in s. 288.0656(2) which is also
1644 located in a fiscally constrained county as defined in s.
1645 218.67(1) or a rural area of opportunity as defined in s.
1646 288.0656(2). Eligible uses of funds may include improving any
1647 inadequate infrastructure that has resulted in regulatory action
1648 that prohibits economic or community growth and reducing the
1649 costs to community users of proposed infrastructure improvements
1650 that exceed such costs in comparable communities. Eligible uses
1651 of funds include improvements to public infrastructure for
1652 industrial or commercial sites and upgrades to or development of
1653 public tourism infrastructure. Authorized infrastructure may
1654 include the following public or public-private partnership
1655 facilities: storm water systems; telecommunications facilities;
1656 roads or other remedies to transportation impediments; nature
1657 based tourism facilities; or other physical requirements
1658 necessary to facilitate tourism, trade, and economic development
1659 activities in the community. Authorized infrastructure may also
1660 include publicly or privately owned self-powered nature-based
1661 tourism facilities, publicly owned telecommunications
1662 facilities, and additions to the distribution facilities of the
1663 existing natural gas utility as defined in s. 366.04(3)(c), the
1664 existing electric utility as defined in s. 366.02, or the
1665 existing water or wastewater utility as defined in s.
1666 367.021(12), or any other existing water or wastewater facility,
1667 which owns a gas or electric distribution system or a water or
1668 wastewater system in this state when:
1669 1. A contribution-in-aid of construction is required to
1670 serve public or public-private partnership facilities under the
1671 tariffs of any natural gas, electric, water, or wastewater
1672 utility as defined herein; and
1673 2. Such utilities as defined herein are willing and able to
1674 provide such service.
1675 (c) The office department may award grants of up to
1676 $300,000 for infrastructure feasibility studies, design and
1677 engineering activities, or other infrastructure planning and
1678 preparation or site readiness activities. Site readiness
1679 expenses may include clearing title, surveys, permitting,
1680 environmental studies, and regulatory compliance costs. Grants
1681 awarded under this paragraph may be used in conjunction with
1682 grants awarded under paragraph (b). In evaluating applications
1683 under this paragraph, the office department shall consider the
1684 extent to which the application seeks to minimize administrative
1685 and consultant expenses.
1686 (d) The office department shall participate in a memorandum
1687 of agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture
1688 under which state funds available through the Rural
1689 Infrastructure Fund may be advanced, in excess of the prescribed
1690 state share, for a project that has received from the United
1691 States Department of Agriculture a preliminary determination of
1692 eligibility for federal financial support. State funds in excess
1693 of the prescribed state share which are advanced pursuant to
1694 this paragraph and the memorandum of agreement shall be
1695 reimbursed when funds are awarded under an application for
1696 federal funding.
1697 (e) To enable local governments to access the resources
1698 available pursuant to s. 403.973(17), the office department may
1699 award grants for surveys, feasibility studies, and other
1700 activities related to the identification and preclearance review
1701 of land which is suitable for preclearance review. Authorized
1702 grants under this paragraph may not exceed $75,000 each, except
1703 in the case of a project in a rural area of opportunity, in
1704 which case the grant may not exceed $300,000. Any funds awarded
1705 under this paragraph must be matched at a level of 50 percent
1706 with local funds, except that any funds awarded for a project in
1707 a rural area of opportunity do not require a match of local
1708 funds. If an application for funding is for a catalyst site, as
1709 defined in s. 288.0656, the requirement for local match may be
1710 waived pursuant to the process in s. 288.06561. In evaluating
1711 applications under this paragraph, the office department shall
1712 consider the extent to which the application seeks to minimize
1713 administrative and consultant expenses.
1714 (3) The office department, in consultation with the
1715 Department of Transportation Florida Tourism Industry Marketing
1716 Corporation, the Department of Environmental Protection, and the
1717 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, as
1718 appropriate, shall review and certify applications pursuant to
1719 s. 288.061. The review must include an evaluation of the
1720 economic benefit and long-term viability. The office has
1721 department shall have final approval for any grant under this
1722 section.
1723 (6) The office shall include in its annual report required
1724 under s. 288.013 detailed information about the fund, including
1725 grants made for the year, grants active, grants terminated or
1726 complete, and the amount of funds not obligated as of 14 days
1727 before the date the report is due.
1728 Section 19. Subsection (1), paragraphs (a), (b), and (e) of
1729 subsection (2), subsections (3) and (6), paragraphs (b) and (c)
1730 of subsection (7), and subsection (8) of section 288.0656,
1731 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
1732 288.0656 Rural Economic Development Initiative.—
1733 (1)(a) Recognizing that rural communities and regions
1734 continue to face extraordinary challenges in their efforts to
1735 significantly improve their economies, specifically in terms of
1736 personal income, job creation, average wages, and strong tax
1737 bases, it is the intent of the Legislature to encourage and
1738 facilitate the location and expansion of major economic
1739 development projects of significant scale in such rural
1740 communities. The Legislature finds that rural communities are
1741 the essential conduits for the economy’s distribution,
1742 manufacturing, and food supply.
1743 (b) The Rural Economic Development Initiative, known as
1744 “REDI,” is created within the Office of Rural Prosperity
1745 department, and all the participation of state and regional
1746 agencies listed in paragraph (6)(a) shall participate in this
1747 initiative is authorized.
1748 (2) As used in this section, the term:
1749 (a) “Catalyst project” means a business locating or
1750 expanding in a rural area of opportunity to serve as an economic
1751 generator of regional significance for the growth of a regional
1752 target industry cluster. The project must provide capital
1753 investment on a scale significant enough to affect the entire
1754 region and result in the development of high-wage and high-skill
1755 jobs.
1756 (b) “Catalyst site” means a parcel or parcels of land
1757 within a rural area of opportunity that has been prioritized as
1758 a geographic site for economic development through partnerships
1759 with state, regional, and local organizations. The site must be
1760 reviewed by REDI and approved by the department for the purposes
1761 of locating a catalyst project.
1762 (c)(e) “Rural community” means:
1763 1. A county with a population of 75,000 or less fewer.
1764 2. A county with a population of 125,000 or less fewer
1765 which is contiguous to a county with a population of 75,000 or
1766 less fewer.
1767 3. A municipality within a county described in subparagraph
1768 1. or subparagraph 2.
1769 4. An unincorporated federal enterprise community or an
1770 incorporated rural city with a population of 25,000 or less
1771 fewer and an employment base focused on traditional agricultural
1772 or resource-based industries, located in a county not defined as
1773 rural, which has at least three or more of the economic distress
1774 factors identified in paragraph (a) paragraph (c) and verified
1775 by the office department.
1776
1777 For purposes of this paragraph, population shall be determined
1778 in accordance with the most recent official estimate pursuant to
1779 s. 186.901.
1780 (3) REDI shall be responsible for coordinating and focusing
1781 the efforts and resources of state and regional agencies on the
1782 problems which affect the fiscal, economic, and community
1783 viability of Florida’s economically distressed rural
1784 communities, working with local governments, community-based
1785 organizations, and private organizations that have an interest
1786 in the growth and development of these communities to find ways
1787 to balance environmental and growth management issues with local
1788 needs.
1789 (6)(a) By August 1 of each year, the head of each of the
1790 following agencies and organizations shall designate a deputy
1791 secretary or higher-level staff person from within the agency or
1792 organization to serve as the REDI representative for the agency
1793 or organization:
1794 1. The Department of Transportation.
1795 2. The Department of Environmental Protection.
1796 3. The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
1797 4. The Department of State.
1798 5. The Department of Health.
1799 6. The Department of Children and Families.
1800 7. The Department of Corrections.
1801 8. The Department of Education.
1802 9. The Department of Juvenile Justice.
1803 10. The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
1804 11. Each water management district.
1805 12. CareerSource Florida, Inc.
1806 13. VISIT Florida.
1807 14. The Florida Regional Planning Council Association.
1808 15. The Agency for Health Care Administration.
1809 16. The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS).
1810 (b) An alternate for each designee must shall also be
1811 chosen, who must also be a deputy secretary or higher-level
1812 staff person, and the names of the designees and alternates must
1813 shall be reported sent to the director of the Office of Rural
1814 Prosperity. At least one rural liaison from each regional rural
1815 community liaison center must participate in the REDI meetings
1816 Secretary of Commerce.
1817 (c) REDI shall meet at least each month, but may meet more
1818 often as necessary. Each REDI representative, or his or her
1819 designee, shall be physically present or available by means of
1820 electronic communication for each meeting.
1821 (d)(b) Each REDI representative must have comprehensive
1822 knowledge of his or her agency’s functions, both regulatory and
1823 service in nature, and of the state’s economic goals, policies,
1824 and programs. This person shall be the primary point of contact
1825 for his or her agency with REDI on issues and projects relating
1826 to economically distressed rural communities and with regard to
1827 expediting project review, shall ensure a prompt effective
1828 response to problems arising with regard to rural issues, and
1829 shall work closely with the other REDI representatives in the
1830 identification of opportunities for preferential awards of
1831 program funds, contractual or other agreement provisions which
1832 meet the requirements of s. 215.971, and allowances and waiver
1833 of program requirements when necessary to encourage and
1834 facilitate long-term private capital investment and job
1835 creation.
1836 (e)(c) The REDI representatives shall work with REDI in the
1837 review and evaluation of statutes and rules for adverse impact
1838 on rural communities and the development of alternative
1839 proposals to mitigate that impact.
1840 (f)(d) Each REDI representative shall be responsible for
1841 ensuring that each district office or facility of his or her
1842 agency is informed quarterly about the Rural Economic
1843 Development Initiative and for providing assistance throughout
1844 the agency in the implementation of REDI activities.
1845 (7)
1846 (b) Designation as a rural area of opportunity under this
1847 subsection shall be contingent upon the execution of a
1848 memorandum of agreement among the office department; the
1849 governing body of the county; and the governing bodies of any
1850 municipalities to be included within a rural area of
1851 opportunity. Such agreement shall specify the terms and
1852 conditions of the designation, including, but not limited to,
1853 the duties and responsibilities of the county and any
1854 participating municipalities to take actions designed to
1855 facilitate the retention and expansion of existing businesses in
1856 the area, as well as the recruitment of new businesses to the
1857 area.
1858 (c) Each rural area of opportunity may designate catalyst
1859 projects, provided that each catalyst project is specifically
1860 recommended by REDI and confirmed as a catalyst project by the
1861 department. All state agencies and departments shall use all
1862 available tools and resources to the extent permissible by law
1863 to promote the creation and development of each catalyst project
1864 and the development of catalyst sites.
1865 (8) REDI shall submit a report to the Office of Rural
1866 Prosperity department on all REDI activities for the previous
1867 fiscal year as a supplement to the office’s department’s annual
1868 report required under s. 288.013 s. 20.60. This supplementary
1869 report must include:
1870 (a) A status report on every project all projects currently
1871 being coordinated through REDI, the number of preferential
1872 awards and allowances made pursuant to this section in detail by
1873 award, allowance, or match type, the dollar amount of such
1874 awards, and the names of the recipients.
1875 (b) A description of all waivers of program requirements
1876 granted, including a list by program of each waiver that was
1877 granted. If waivers were requested but were not granted, a list
1878 of ungranted waivers, including reasons why the waivers were not
1879 granted, must be included.
1880 (c) Detailed information as to the economic impact of the
1881 projects coordinated by REDI.
1882 (d) Recommendations based on the review and evaluation of
1883 statutes and rules having an adverse impact on rural communities
1884 and proposals to mitigate such adverse impacts.
1885 (e) Legislative recommendations for statutory waivers or
1886 reductions of specified economic development program
1887 requirements, including financial match waivers or reductions,
1888 for applicants within rural areas of opportunity.
1889 (f) Outcomes of proposals submitted pursuant to s. 288.019.
1890 Section 20. Section 288.06561, Florida Statutes, is
1891 repealed.
1892 Section 21. Subsections (2), (3), and (4) of section
1893 288.0657, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
1894 288.0657 Florida rural economic development strategy
1895 grants.—
1896 (2) The Office of Rural Prosperity shall provide department
1897 may accept and administer moneys appropriated to the department
1898 for providing grants to assist rural communities to develop and
1899 implement strategic economic development plans. Grants may be
1900 provided to assist with costs associated with marketing a site
1901 to business and site selectors for an economic development
1902 project that is part of an economic development plan, either as
1903 part of funding to develop and implement a plan or related to an
1904 already adopted plan.
1905 (3) A rural community, an economic development organization
1906 in a rural area, or a regional organization representing at
1907 least one rural community or such economic development
1908 organizations may apply for such grants. The rural liaison for
1909 the rural community shall assist those applying for such grants.
1910 (4) The office department shall establish criteria for
1911 reviewing grant applications. These criteria must shall include,
1912 but are not limited to, the degree of participation and
1913 commitment by the local community and the application’s
1914 consistency with local comprehensive plans or the application’s
1915 proposal to ensure such consistency. Grants for marketing may
1916 include funding for advertising campaign materials and costs
1917 associated with meetings, trade missions, and professional
1918 development affiliated with site preparation and marketing. The
1919 office department shall review each application for a grant. The
1920 department may approve grants only to the extent that funds are
1921 appropriated for such grants by the Legislature.
1922 Section 22. Paragraph (a) of subsection (13) of section
1923 288.1226, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1924 288.1226 Florida Tourism Industry Marketing Corporation;
1925 use of property; board of directors; duties; audit.—
1926 (13) FOUR-YEAR MARKETING PLAN.—
1927 (a) The corporation shall, in collaboration with the
1928 department, develop a 4-year marketing plan. At a minimum, the
1929 marketing plan must discuss the following:
1930 1. Continuation of overall tourism growth in this state.
1931 2. Expansion to new or under-represented tourist markets.
1932 3. Maintenance of traditional and loyal tourist markets.
1933 4. Coordination of efforts with county destination
1934 marketing organizations, other local government marketing
1935 groups, privately owned attractions and destinations, and other
1936 private sector partners to create a seamless, four-season
1937 advertising campaign for the state and its regions.
1938 5. Development of innovative techniques or promotions to
1939 build repeat visitation by targeted segments of the tourist
1940 population.
1941 6. Consideration of innovative sources of state funding for
1942 tourism marketing.
1943 7. Promotion of nature-based tourism, including, but not
1944 limited to, promotion of the Florida Greenways and Trails System
1945 as described under s. 260.014 and the Florida Shared-Use
1946 Nonmotorized Trail Network as described under s. 339.81.
1947 8. Coordination of efforts with the Office of Greenways and
1948 Trails of the Department of Environmental Protection and the
1949 department to promote and assist local communities, including,
1950 but not limited to, communities designated as trail towns by the
1951 Office of Greenways and Trails, to maximize use of nearby trails
1952 as economic assets, including specific promotion of trail-based
1953 tourism.
1954 9. Promotion of heritage tourism.
1955 10. Development of a component to address emergency
1956 response to natural and manmade disasters from a marketing
1957 standpoint.
1958 11. Provision of appropriate marketing assistance resources
1959 to small, rural, and agritourism businesses located in this
1960 state. Such resources may include, but are not limited to,
1961 marketing plans, marketing assistance, promotional support,
1962 media development, technical expertise, marketing advice,
1963 technology training, and social marketing support.
1964 Section 23. Section 288.12266, Florida Statutes, is
1965 repealed.
1966 Section 24. Paragraph (f) of subsection (2) and paragraphs
1967 (a), (b), and (c) of subsection (4) of section 288.9961, Florida
1968 Statutes, are amended, and subsections (6) and (7) are added to
1969 that section, to read:
1970 288.9961 Promotion of broadband adoption; Florida Office of
1971 Broadband.—
1972 (2) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term:
1973 (f) “Underserved” means a geographic area of this state in
1974 which there is no provider of broadband Internet service that
1975 offers a connection to the Internet with a capacity for
1976 transmission at a consistent speed of at least 100 megabits per
1977 second downstream and at least 20 10 megabits per second
1978 upstream.
1979 (4) FLORIDA OFFICE OF BROADBAND.—The Florida Office of
1980 Broadband is created within the Division of Community
1981 Development in the department for the purpose of developing,
1982 marketing, and promoting broadband Internet services in this
1983 state. The office, in the performance of its duties, shall do
1984 all of the following:
1985 (a) Create a strategic plan that has goals and strategies
1986 for increasing and improving the availability of, access to, and
1987 use of broadband Internet service in this state. In development
1988 of the plan, the department shall incorporate applicable federal
1989 broadband activities, including any efforts or initiatives of
1990 the Federal Communications Commission, to improve broadband
1991 Internet service in this state. The plan must identify available
1992 federal funding sources for the expansion or improvement of
1993 broadband. The strategic plan must be submitted to the Governor,
1994 the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
1995 Representatives by June 30, 2022. The strategic plan must be
1996 updated biennially thereafter. The plan must include a process
1997 to review and verify public input regarding transmission speeds
1998 and availability of broadband Internet service throughout this
1999 state. The office shall consult with each regional rural
2000 community liaison center within the Office of Rural Prosperity
2001 on the development and update of the plan.
2002 (b) Build and facilitate local technology planning teams or
2003 partnerships with members representing cross-sections of the
2004 community, which may include, but are not limited to,
2005 representatives from the following organizations and industries:
2006 libraries, K-12 education, colleges and universities, local
2007 health care providers, private businesses, community
2008 organizations, economic development organizations, local
2009 governments, tourism, parks and recreation, and agriculture. The
2010 local technology planning teams or partnerships shall work with
2011 rural communities to help the communities understand their
2012 current broadband availability, locate unserved and underserved
2013 businesses and residents, identify assets relevant to broadband
2014 deployment, build partnerships with broadband service providers,
2015 and identify opportunities to leverage assets and reduce
2016 barriers to the deployment of broadband Internet services in the
2017 community. The teams or partnerships must be proactive in rural
2018 communities as defined in s. 288.0656 fiscally constrained
2019 counties in identifying and providing assistance, in
2020 coordination with the regional rural community liaison centers
2021 within the Office of Rural Prosperity, with applying for federal
2022 grants for broadband Internet service.
2023 (c) Provide technical and planning assistance to rural
2024 communities in coordination with the regional rural community
2025 liaison centers within the Office of Rural Prosperity.
2026 (6) The office shall submit to the Governor, the President
2027 of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives a
2028 quarterly report detailing the implementation of broadband
2029 activities in rural, unserved, and underserved communities. Such
2030 information must be listed by county and include the amount of
2031 state and federal funds allocated and expended in the county by
2032 program; the progress toward deploying broadband in the county;
2033 any technical assistance provided; the activities of the local
2034 technology planning teams and partnerships; and the fulfillment
2035 of any other duties of the office required by this part.
2036 (7) By December 31 each year, the office shall submit to
2037 the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of
2038 the House of Representatives an annual report on the office’s
2039 operations and accomplishments for that calendar year and the
2040 status of broadband Internet service access and use in this
2041 state. The report must also incorporate the quarterly reports on
2042 rural, unserved, and underserved communities required by
2043 subsection (6).
2044 Section 25. Section 290.06561, Florida Statutes, is
2045 repealed.
2046 Section 26. Paragraph (a) of subsection (5) of section
2047 319.32, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
2048 319.32 Fees; service charges; disposition.—
2049 (5)(a) Forty-seven dollars of each fee collected, except
2050 for fees charged on a certificate of title for a motor vehicle
2051 for hire registered under s. 320.08(6), for each applicable
2052 original certificate of title and each applicable duplicate copy
2053 of a certificate of title shall be deposited as follows: into
2054 the State Transportation Trust Fund. Deposits to the State
2055 Transportation Trust Fund pursuant to this paragraph may not
2056 exceed $200 million in any fiscal year, and from any collections
2057 in excess of that amount during the fiscal year,
2058 1. The first $30 million collected shall be deposited into
2059 the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund;, and
2060 2. Any remaining collections shall be paid into the State
2061 Transportation Trust General Revenue Fund.
2062 Section 27. Subsection (37) is added to section 334.044,
2063 Florida Statutes, to read:
2064 334.044 Powers and duties of the department.—The department
2065 shall have the following general powers and duties:
2066 (37) To provide technical assistance and support from the
2067 appropriate district of the department to counties that are not
2068 located in a metropolitan planning organization created pursuant
2069 to s. 339.175.
2070 Section 28. Section 339.0801, Florida Statutes, is amended
2071 to read:
2072 339.0801 Allocation of increased revenues derived from
2073 amendments to s. 319.32(5)(a) by ch. 2012-128.—
2074 (1) The first $200 million of funds that result from
2075 increased revenues to the State Transportation Trust Fund
2076 derived from the amendments to s. 319.32(5)(a) made by s. 11,
2077 chapter 2012-128, Laws of Florida, this act must be used
2078 annually, first as set forth in paragraph (a) subsection (1) and
2079 then as set forth in paragraphs (b), (c), and (d) subsections
2080 (2)-(4), notwithstanding any other provision of law:
2081 (a)1.(1)(a) Beginning in the 2013-2014 fiscal year and
2082 annually for 30 years thereafter, $10 million shall be for the
2083 purpose of funding any seaport project identified in the adopted
2084 work program of the Department of Transportation, to be known as
2085 the Seaport Investment Program.
2086 2.(b) The revenues may be assigned, pledged, or set aside
2087 as a trust for the payment of principal or interest on revenue
2088 bonds, or other forms of indebtedness issued by an individual
2089 port or appropriate local government having jurisdiction
2090 thereof, or collectively by interlocal agreement among any of
2091 the ports, or used to purchase credit support to permit such
2092 borrowings. Alternatively, revenue bonds shall be issued by the
2093 Division of Bond Finance at the request of the Department of
2094 Transportation under the State Bond Act and shall be secured by
2095 such revenues as are provided in this subsection.
2096 3.(c) Revenue bonds or other indebtedness issued hereunder
2097 are not a general obligation of the state and are secured solely
2098 by a first lien on the revenues distributed under this
2099 subsection.
2100 4.(d) The state covenants with holders of the revenue bonds
2101 or other instruments of indebtedness issued pursuant to this
2102 subsection that it will not repeal this subsection; nor take any
2103 other action, including but not limited to amending this
2104 subsection, that will materially and adversely affect the rights
2105 of such holders so long as revenue bonds or other indebtedness
2106 authorized by this subsection are outstanding.
2107 5.(e) The proceeds of any revenue bonds or other
2108 indebtedness, after payment of costs of issuance and
2109 establishment of any required reserves, shall be invested in
2110 projects approved by the Department of Transportation and
2111 included in the department’s adopted work program, by amendment
2112 if necessary. As required under s. 11(f), Art. VII of the State
2113 Constitution, the Legislature approves projects included in the
2114 department’s adopted work program, including any projects added
2115 to the work program by amendment under s. 339.135(7).
2116 6.(f) Any revenues that are not used for the payment of
2117 bonds as authorized by this subsection may be used for purposes
2118 authorized under the Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic
2119 Development Program. This revenue source is in addition to any
2120 amounts provided for and appropriated in accordance with ss.
2121 311.07 and 320.20(3) and (4).
2122 (b)(2) Beginning in the 2013-2014 fiscal year and annually
2123 thereafter, $10 million shall be transferred to the
2124 Transportation Disadvantaged Trust Fund, to be used as specified
2125 in s. 427.0159.
2126 (c)(3) Beginning in the 2013-2014 fiscal year and annually
2127 thereafter, $10 million shall be allocated to the Small County
2128 Outreach Program to be used as specified in s. 339.2818. These
2129 funds are in addition to the funds provided for the program
2130 pursuant to s. 201.15(4)(a)2.
2131 (d)(4) After the distributions required pursuant to
2132 paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) subsections (1)-(3), the remaining
2133 funds shall be used annually for transportation projects within
2134 this state for existing or planned strategic transportation
2135 projects which connect major markets within this state or
2136 between this state and other states, which focus on job
2137 creation, and which increase this state’s viability in the
2138 national and global markets.
2139 (2) The remaining funds that result from increased revenue
2140 to the State Transportation Trust Fund derived pursuant to s.
2141 319.32(5)(a) must be used annually, notwithstanding any other
2142 law, beginning in the 2025-2026 fiscal year and annually
2143 thereafter, for the Small County Road Assistance Program as
2144 prescribed in s. 339.2816.
2145 (3)(5) Pursuant to s. 339.135(7), the department shall
2146 amend the work program to add the projects provided for in this
2147 section.
2148 Section 29. Subsection (3) and paragraph (a) of subsection
2149 (4) of section 339.2816, Florida Statutes, are amended, and
2150 paragraph (c) of subsection (4) of that section is reenacted, to
2151 read:
2152 339.2816 Small County Road Assistance Program.—
2153 (3) Beginning with fiscal year 1999-2000 until fiscal year
2154 2009-2010, and beginning again with fiscal year 2012-2013, up to
2155 $25 million annually from the State Transportation Trust Fund
2156 must may be used for the purposes of funding the Small County
2157 Road Assistance Program as described in this section. In
2158 addition, beginning with fiscal year 2025-2026, the department
2159 must use the additional revenues allocated by s. 339.0801 for
2160 the Small County Road Assistance Program.
2161 (4)(a) Small counties shall be eligible to compete for
2162 funds that have been designated for the Small County Road
2163 Assistance Program for resurfacing or reconstruction projects on
2164 county roads that were part of the county road system on June
2165 10, 1995. Capacity improvements on county roads are shall not be
2166 eligible for funding under the program unless a safety issue
2167 exists or the department finds it necessary to widen existing
2168 lanes as part of a resurfacing or reconstruction project.
2169 (c) The following criteria must be used to prioritize road
2170 projects for funding under the program:
2171 1. The primary criterion is the physical condition of the
2172 road as measured by the department.
2173 2. As secondary criteria the department may consider:
2174 a. Whether a road is used as an evacuation route.
2175 b. Whether a road has high levels of agricultural travel.
2176 c. Whether a road is considered a major arterial route.
2177 d. Whether a road is considered a feeder road.
2178 e. Whether a road is located in a fiscally constrained
2179 county, as defined in s. 218.67(1).
2180 f. Other criteria related to the impact of a project on the
2181 public road system or on the state or local economy as
2182 determined by the department.
2183 Section 30. Subsection (3) of section 339.2817, Florida
2184 Statutes, is amended, and a new subsection (6) is added to that
2185 section, to read:
2186 339.2817 County Incentive Grant Program.—
2187 (3) The department must consider, but is not limited to,
2188 the following criteria for evaluation of projects for County
2189 Incentive Grant Program assistance:
2190 (a) The extent to which the project will encourage,
2191 enhance, or create economic benefits;
2192 (b) The likelihood that assistance would enable the project
2193 to proceed at an earlier date than the project could otherwise
2194 proceed;
2195 (c) The extent to which assistance would foster innovative
2196 public-private partnerships and attract private debt or equity
2197 investment;
2198 (d) The extent to which the project uses new technologies,
2199 including intelligent transportation systems, which enhance the
2200 efficiency of the project;
2201 (e) The extent to which the project enhances connectivity
2202 between rural agricultural areas and market distribution
2203 centers;
2204 (f)(e) The extent to which the project helps to maintain or
2205 protect the environment; and
2206 (g)(f) The extent to which the project includes
2207 transportation benefits for improving intermodalism and safety.
2208 (6) A county located either wholly or partially within the
2209 Everglades Agricultural Area as defined in s. 373.4592(15) may,
2210 notwithstanding subsection (4), request 100 percent of project
2211 costs for eligible projects that meet the criteria established
2212 in paragraph (3)(e).
2213 Section 31. Subsections (1), (2), (3), (6), (7), and (8) of
2214 section 339.2818, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
2215 339.2818 Small County Outreach Program.—
2216 (1) There is created within the department of
2217 Transportation the Small County Outreach Program. The purpose of
2218 this program is to assist small county governments in repairing
2219 or rehabilitating county bridges, paving unpaved roads,
2220 addressing road-related drainage improvements, resurfacing or
2221 reconstructing county roads, or constructing capacity or safety
2222 improvements to county roads.
2223 (2) For the purposes of this section, the term “small
2224 county” means any county that has a population of 200,000 or
2225 less as determined by the most recent official population census
2226 determination estimate pursuant to s. 186.901.
2227 (3) Funds allocated under this program, pursuant to s. 4,
2228 ch. 2000-257, Laws of Florida, are in addition to any funds
2229 provided pursuant to s. 339.2816, for the Small County Road
2230 Assistance Program.
2231 (5)(6) Funds paid into the State Transportation Trust Fund
2232 pursuant to ss. 201.15, 320.072, and 339.0801 s. 201.15 for the
2233 purposes of the Small County Outreach Program are hereby
2234 annually appropriated for expenditure to support the Small
2235 County Outreach Program.
2236 (6)(7) Subject to a specific appropriation in addition to
2237 funds annually appropriated for projects under this section, a
2238 municipality within a rural area of opportunity or a rural area
2239 of opportunity community designated under s. 288.0656(7)(a) may
2240 compete for the additional project funding using the criteria
2241 listed in subsection (3) (4) at up to 100 percent of project
2242 costs, excluding capacity improvement projects.
2243 (8) Subject to a specific appropriation in addition to
2244 funds appropriated for projects under this section, a local
2245 government either wholly or partially within the Everglades
2246 Agricultural Area as defined in s. 373.4592(15), the Peace River
2247 Basin, or the Suwannee River Basin may compete for additional
2248 funding using the criteria listed in paragraph (4)(c) at up to
2249 100 percent of project costs on state or county roads used
2250 primarily as farm-to-market connections between rural
2251 agricultural areas and market distribution centers, excluding
2252 capacity improvement projects.
2253 Section 32. Section 339.68, Florida Statutes, is amended to
2254 read:
2255 (Substantial rewording of section.
2256 See s. 339.68, F.S., for present text.)
2257 339.68 Florida Arterial Road Modernization Program.—
2258 (1) The Legislature finds that increasing demands continue
2259 to be placed on rural arterial roads in this state by a fast
2260 growing economy, continued population growth, and increased
2261 tourism. Investment in the rural arterial roads of this state is
2262 needed to maintain the safety, mobility, reliability, and
2263 resiliency of the transportation system in order to support the
2264 movement of people, goods, and commodities; to enhance economic
2265 prosperity and competitiveness; and to enrich the quality of
2266 life of the rural communities and the environment of this state.
2267 (2) The Florida Arterial Road Modernization Program is
2268 created within the department to make capacity and safety
2269 improvements to two-lane arterial roads located in rural
2270 communities. For purposes of this section, the term “rural
2271 community” has the same meaning as provided in s. 288.0656.
2272 (3) Beginning in the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the department
2273 shall allocate from the State Transportation Trust Fund a
2274 minimum of $50 million in each fiscal year for purposes of
2275 funding the program. This funding is in addition to any other
2276 funding provided to the program by any other law.
2277 (4) The department shall use the following criteria to
2278 prioritize projects for funding under the program:
2279 (a) Whether the road has documented safety concerns or
2280 requires additional safety and design improvements. This may be
2281 evidenced by the number of fatalities or crashes per vehicle
2282 mile traveled.
2283 (b) Whether the road has or is projected to have a
2284 significant amount of truck tractor traffic as determined by the
2285 department. For purposes of this paragraph, the term “truck
2286 tractor” has the same meaning as in s. 320.01(11).
2287 (c) Whether the road is used to transport agricultural
2288 products and commodities from the farm to the market or other
2289 sale or distribution point.
2290 (d) Whether the road is used to transport goods to or from
2291 warehouses, distribution centers, or intermodal logistics
2292 centers as defined in s. 311.101(2).
2293 (e) Whether the road is used as an evacuation route.
2294 (f) Whether the physical condition of the road meets
2295 department standards.
2296 (g) Whether the road currently has, or is projected to have
2297 within the next 5 years, a level of service of D, E, or F.
2298 (h) Any other criteria related to the impact of a project
2299 on the public road system or on the state or local economy as
2300 determined by the department.
2301 (5) By January 1, 2027, and every 2 years thereafter, the
2302 department shall submit to the Governor, the President of the
2303 Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives a report
2304 regarding the use and condition of arterial roads located in
2305 rural communities, which report must include the following:
2306 (a) A map of roads located in rural communities which are
2307 designated as arterial roads.
2308 (b) A needs assessment that must include, but is not
2309 limited to, consideration of infrastructure improvements to
2310 improve capacity on arterial roads in rural communities.
2311 (c) A synopsis of the department’s project prioritization
2312 process.
2313 (d) An estimate of the local and state economic impact of
2314 improving capacity on arterial roads in rural communities.
2315 (e) A listing of the arterial roads and the associated
2316 improvements to be included in the program and a schedule or
2317 timeline for the inclusion of such projects in the work program.
2318 Section 33. (1) The Department of Transportation shall
2319 allocate the additional funds provided by this act to implement
2320 the Small County Road Assistance Program as created by s.
2321 339.2816, Florida Statutes, and amend the current tentative work
2322 program for the 2025-2026 through 2031-2032 fiscal years to
2323 include additional projects. In addition, before adoption of the
2324 work program, the department shall submit a budget amendment
2325 pursuant to s. 339.135(7), Florida Statutes, requesting budget
2326 authority necessary to implement the additional projects.
2327 (2) The department shall allocate sufficient funds to
2328 implement the Florida Arterial Road Modernization Program,
2329 develop a plan to expend the revenues as specified in s. 339.68,
2330 Florida Statutes, and, before its adoption, amend the current
2331 tentative work program for the 2025-2026 through 2031-2032
2332 fiscal years to include the program’s projects. In addition,
2333 before adoption of the work program, the department shall submit
2334 a budget amendment pursuant to s. 339.135(7), Florida Statutes,
2335 requesting budget authority necessary to implement the program
2336 as specified in s. 339.68, Florida Statutes.
2337 (3) Notwithstanding any other law, the increase in revenue
2338 to the State Transportation Trust Fund derived from the
2339 amendments to ss. 201.15 and 319.32, Florida Statutes, made by
2340 this act and deposited into the trust fund pursuant to ss.
2341 201.15 and 339.0801, Florida Statutes, shall be used by the
2342 department to fund the programs as specified in this section.
2343 Section 34. Paragraph (h) is added to subsection (2) of
2344 section 381.402, Florida Statutes, and paragraph (b) of
2345 subsection (3) of that section is amended, to read:
2346 381.402 Florida Reimbursement Assistance for Medical
2347 Education Program.—
2348 (2) The following licensed or certified health care
2349 practitioners are eligible to participate in the program:
2350 (h) Medical doctors or doctors of osteopathic medicine who
2351 are board certified in emergency medicine and employed by or
2352 under contract with a rural hospital as defined in s.
2353 395.602(2)(b) or a rural emergency hospital as defined in s.
2354 395.607(1)(a) to provide medical care in the rural hospital’s or
2355 rural emergency hospital’s emergency department.
2356
2357 Primary care medical specialties for physicians include
2358 obstetrics, gynecology, general and family practice, geriatrics,
2359 internal medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry, and other specialties
2360 which may be identified by the Department of Health.
2361 (3) From the funds available, the Department of Health
2362 shall make payments as follows:
2363 (b) All payments are contingent on continued proof of:
2364 1.a. Primary care practice in a rural hospital as defined
2365 in s. 395.602(2)(b) or an underserved area designated by the
2366 Department of Health, provided the practitioner accepts Medicaid
2367 reimbursement if eligible for such reimbursement; or
2368 b. Emergency medicine practice in a rural hospital as
2369 defined in s. 395.602(2)(b) or rural emergency hospital as
2370 defined in s. 395.607(1)(a), provided the practitioner accepts
2371 Medicaid reimbursement if eligible for such reimbursement; or
2372 c.b. For practitioners other than physicians, practice in
2373 other settings, including, but not limited to, a nursing home
2374 facility as defined in s. 400.021, a home health agency as
2375 defined in s. 400.462, or an intermediate care facility for the
2376 developmentally disabled as defined in s. 400.960. Any such
2377 setting must be located in, or serve residents or patients in,
2378 an underserved area designated by the Department of Health and
2379 must provide services to Medicaid patients.
2380 2. Providing 25 hours annually of volunteer primary care
2381 services within the practitioner’s scope of practice in a free
2382 clinic as specified in s. 766.1115(3)(d)14. or through another
2383 volunteer program operated by the state pursuant to part IV of
2384 chapter 110 and approved by the department. In order to meet the
2385 requirements of this subparagraph, the volunteer hours must be
2386 verifiable in a manner determined by the department.
2387 Section 35. Section 381.403, Florida Statutes, is created
2388 to read:
2389 381.403 Rural Access to Primary and Preventive Care Grant
2390 Program.—The Legislature recognizes that access to primary and
2391 preventive health care is critical for the well-being of the
2392 residents of this state. The Legislature also recognizes that
2393 many rural areas of this state have significantly fewer
2394 available physicians, physician assistants, and autonomous
2395 advanced practice registered nurses who serve those areas. To
2396 increase the availability of health care in such underserved
2397 rural areas, there is created the Rural Access to Primary and
2398 Preventive Care Grant Program within the Department of Health to
2399 use grants to incentivize the creation or expansion of health
2400 care practices in those areas.
2401 (1) As used in this section, the term:
2402 (a) “Autonomous advanced practice registered nurse” means
2403 an advanced practice registered nurse who is registered under s.
2404 464.0123 to engage in autonomous practice.
2405 (b) “Majority ownership” means ownership of more than 50
2406 percent of the interests in a private practice.
2407 (c) “Physician” means a physician licensed under chapter
2408 458 or chapter 459.
2409 (d) “Physician assistant” means a physician assistant
2410 licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459 to perform medical
2411 services delegated by a supervising physician.
2412 (e) “Preventive care” means routine health care services
2413 designed to prevent illness. The term includes, but is not
2414 limited to, general physical examinations provided on an annual
2415 basis, screenings for acute or chronic illnesses, and patient
2416 counseling to promote overall wellness and avoid the need for
2417 emergency services.
2418 (f) “Primary care” means health care services focused
2419 primarily on preventive care, wellness care, and treatment for
2420 common illnesses. The term may include the health care provider
2421 serving as a patient’s entry point into the overall health care
2422 system and coordinating a patient’s care among specialists or
2423 acute care settings. The term does not include elective services
2424 provided solely for cosmetic purposes.
2425 (g) “Program” means the Rural Access to Primary and
2426 Preventive Care Grant Program.
2427 (h) “Qualifying rural area” means a rural community as
2428 defined in s. 288.0657 in this state which is also designated as
2429 a health professional shortage area by the Health Resources and
2430 Services Administration of the United States Department of
2431 Health and Human Services.
2432 (2) The department shall award grants under the program to
2433 physicians, physician assistants, and autonomous advanced
2434 practice registered nurses who intend to open a new private
2435 practice in a qualifying rural area or who intend to open a new
2436 location within a qualifying rural area if the current private
2437 practice is located in a different county. To qualify for a
2438 grant, an applicant must meet all of the following criteria:
2439 (a) The practice must:
2440 1. Have majority ownership by physicians, physician
2441 assistants, or autonomous advanced practice registered nurses,
2442 or a combination thereof.
2443 2. Be physically located in a qualifying rural area and
2444 serve at that location patients who live in that qualifying
2445 rural area or in other nearby qualifying rural areas. The
2446 practice may also serve patients who reside outside of a
2447 qualifying rural area. While the practice may use telehealth to
2448 supplement the services provided at the location, the majority
2449 of services provided by the practice must be provided in-person
2450 at the physical location.
2451 3. Accept Medicaid patients.
2452 4. Provide services solely in primary care or preventative
2453 care, except that a physician, and any nurse licensed under
2454 chapter 464 or any physician assistant supervised by the
2455 physician, may provide services at the practice in primary care
2456 or preventative care, or services that are within the
2457 practitioner’s scope of practice based on the physician’s board
2458 certified specialty in obstetrics, gynecology, general and
2459 family practice, geriatrics, internal medicine, pediatrics, or
2460 psychiatry.
2461 (b) The owners of the practice must commit to providing the
2462 following information to the department on an annual basis, and
2463 upon request by the department, for the duration of the contract
2464 entered into pursuant to subsection (6):
2465 1. Deidentified patient encounter data.
2466 2. A detailed report on the use of grant funds until such
2467 funds are expended.
2468 (3) By March 1, 2026, the department shall create an
2469 application process for eligible physicians, physician
2470 assistants, and autonomous advanced practice registered nurses
2471 to apply for grants under the program. The application must
2472 require a detailed budget of anticipated use of grant funds and
2473 how the new or existing practice will meet the requirements of
2474 subsection (2). The department shall establish a ranking system
2475 to determine which applicants will be awarded grants if there
2476 are more applicants for the program than can be awarded grants
2477 with available appropriated funds.
2478 (4) Subject to specific appropriation, the department may
2479 award grants of up to $250,000 to eligible applicants. Only one
2480 grant may be awarded per practice. Grant funds awarded for
2481 establishing a new private practice or a new practice location
2482 may be used for any of the following expenses:
2483 (a) Facility construction, acquisition, renovation, or
2484 lease.
2485 (b) Purchasing medical equipment.
2486 (c) Purchasing or implementing information technology
2487 equipment or services.
2488 (d) Purchasing or implementing telehealth technology.
2489 (e) Training on the use of medical equipment, information
2490 technology, or telehealth technology implemented under paragraph
2491 (b), paragraph (c), or paragraph (d), respectively.
2492 (5) Grant funds may not be used for any of the following:
2493 (a) Salaries.
2494 (b) Utilities.
2495 (c) Internet or telecommunications services other than
2496 those necessary for implementing telehealth technology under
2497 paragraph (4)(d).
2498 (d) Insurance.
2499 (e) Incidental maintenance and repairs.
2500 (f) Disposable medical supplies.
2501 (g) Medicines or vaccines.
2502 (h) Licensing or certification fees, including costs for
2503 continuing education other than training under paragraph (4)(e).
2504 (6) The department shall enter into a contract with each
2505 grant recipient which details the requirements for the
2506 expenditure of grant funds for that recipient. The contract must
2507 include, at a minimum, all of the following:
2508 (a) The purpose of the contract.
2509 (b) Specific performance standards and responsibilities for
2510 the recipient under the contract, including penalties for not
2511 meeting such performance standards and responsibilities.
2512 (c) A detailed project or contract budget, if applicable.
2513 (d) Reporting requirements for grant recipients to provide
2514 information to the department under paragraph (2)(b) as well as
2515 any additional information the department deems necessary for
2516 the administration of the program.
2517 (7) The department may adopt rules to implement the
2518 program.
2519 (8) Beginning July 1, 2026, and each year thereafter in
2520 which there are outstanding contracts with grant recipients
2521 under subsection (6), the department shall provide a report to
2522 the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of
2523 the House of Representatives which includes, but need not be
2524 limited to, all of the following:
2525 (a) Each grant awarded, including the proposed uses for
2526 each grant.
2527 (b) The progress on each outstanding contract.
2528 (c) The number of patients residing in rural areas who were
2529 served by grant awardees.
2530 (d) The number of Medicaid recipients who were served by
2531 grant awardees.
2532 (e) The number and types of services provided during
2533 patient encounters in locations opened under the program.
2534 (f) The number of health care practitioners, delineated by
2535 licensure type, providing services in locations opened under the
2536 program.
2537 (9) This section is repealed July 1, 2035, unless reviewed
2538 and saved from repeal through reenactment by the Legislature.
2539 Section 36. Section 381.9856, Florida Statutes, is created
2540 to read:
2541 381.9856 Stroke, Cardiac, and Obstetric Response and
2542 Education Grant Program.—
2543 (1) PROGRAM CREATION.—The Stroke, Cardiac, and Obstetric
2544 Response and Education (SCORE) Grant Program is created within
2545 the Department of Health.
2546 (2) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the program is to improve
2547 patient outcomes and the coordination of emergency medical care
2548 in rural communities by increasing access to high-quality
2549 stroke, cardiac, and obstetric care through the application of
2550 technology and innovative training, such as blended learning
2551 training programs. Blended learning training programs ensure
2552 that participants gain both the theoretical foundations of
2553 diagnosis and management as well as real-world clinical
2554 experience through scenario-based learning, ultimately enhancing
2555 decisionmaking and patient outcomes.
2556 (3) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term:
2557 (a) “Blended learning training program” means a structured
2558 educational model that uses blended learning methodologies,
2559 including simulation-based training, virtual reality, and
2560 distance learning technologies, in conjunction with hands-on
2561 instruction, such as simulation-based practice, and in-person
2562 skills sessions to provide comprehensive education.
2563 (b) “High-risk care provider” means a licensed health care
2564 facility or licensed ambulance service that regularly provides
2565 emergency or ongoing care to patients experiencing a stroke,
2566 heart attack, or pregnancy-related emergency.
2567 (c) “Rural community” has the same meaning as provided in
2568 s. 288.0657.
2569 (4) GRANT PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.—
2570 (a) The department shall award grants to high-risk care
2571 providers serving rural communities to accomplish at least one
2572 of the following initiatives:
2573 1. Implement a blended learning training program for health
2574 care providers in stroke care protocols and best practices.
2575 2. Purchase simulation equipment and technology for
2576 training.
2577 3. Establish telehealth capabilities between prehospital
2578 providers, such as paramedics or emergency medical technicians,
2579 and in-hospital providers, such as neurologists, to expedite
2580 emergency stroke care, emergency cardiac care, or emergency
2581 obstetric care.
2582 4. Develop quality improvement programs in one or more of
2583 the following specialty areas: emergency stroke care, emergency
2584 cardiac care, or emergency obstetric care.
2585 (b) Priority must be given to proposals that:
2586 1. Demonstrate collaboration between prehospital and in
2587 hospital providers; or
2588 2. Show potential for significant improvement in patient
2589 outcomes in rural communities.
2590 (5) FUNDING LIMITS; REPORTING.—
2591 (a) Individual grants may not exceed $100,000 per year.
2592 (b) Grant recipients must submit quarterly reports to the
2593 department documenting program activities, expenditures, and
2594 outcomes.
2595 (6) ADMINISTRATION.—The department shall monitor program
2596 implementation and outcomes. The department shall submit an
2597 annual report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and
2598 the Speaker of the House of Representatives by December 1 of
2599 each year, detailing program implementation and outcomes.
2600 (7) RULEMAKING.—The department may adopt rules to implement
2601 this section.
2602 (8) IMPLEMENTATION.—This section may be implemented only to
2603 the extent specifically funded by legislative appropriation.
2604 (9) REPEAL.—This section is repealed July 1, 2030, unless
2605 reviewed and saved from repeal through reenactment by the
2606 Legislature.
2607 Section 37. Subsection (2) of section 395.6061, Florida
2608 Statutes, is amended to read:
2609 395.6061 Rural hospital capital improvement.—There is
2610 established a rural hospital capital improvement grant program.
2611 (2)(a) Each rural hospital as defined in s. 395.602 shall
2612 receive a minimum of $100,000 annually, subject to legislative
2613 appropriation, upon application to the Department of Health, for
2614 projects to acquire, repair, improve, or upgrade systems,
2615 facilities, or equipment. Such projects may include, but are not
2616 limited to, the following:
2617 1. Establishing mobile care units to provide primary care
2618 services, behavioral health services, or obstetric and
2619 gynecological services in rural health professional shortage
2620 areas.
2621 2. Establishing telehealth kiosks to provide urgent care
2622 and primary care services remotely in rural health professional
2623 shortage areas.
2624 (b) As used in this subsection, the term:
2625 1. “Preventive care” means routine health care services
2626 designed to prevent illness. The term includes, but is not
2627 limited to, general physical examinations provided on an annual
2628 basis, screenings for acute or chronic illnesses, and patient
2629 counseling to promote overall wellness and avoid the need for
2630 emergency services.
2631 2. “Primary care” means health care services focused
2632 primarily on preventive care, wellness care, and treatment for
2633 common illnesses. The term may include the health care provider
2634 serving as a patient’s entry point into the overall health care
2635 system and coordinating a patient’s care among specialists or
2636 acute care settings. The term does not include elective services
2637 provided solely for cosmetic purposes.
2638 3. “Rural health professional shortage area” means a rural
2639 community as defined in s. 288.0657 which is also designated as
2640 a health professional shortage area by the Health Resources and
2641 Services Administration of the United States Department of
2642 Health and Human Services.
2643 Section 38. Subsection (3) of section 420.9073, Florida
2644 Statutes, is amended to read:
2645 420.9073 Local housing distributions.—
2646 (3) Calculation of guaranteed amounts:
2647 (a) The guaranteed amount under subsection (1) shall be
2648 calculated for each state fiscal year by multiplying $1 million
2649 $350,000 by a fraction, the numerator of which is the amount of
2650 funds distributed to the Local Government Housing Trust Fund
2651 pursuant to s. 201.15(4)(c) and the denominator of which is the
2652 total amount of funds distributed to the Local Government
2653 Housing Trust Fund pursuant to s. 201.15.
2654 (b) The guaranteed amount under subsection (2) shall be
2655 calculated for each state fiscal year by multiplying $1 million
2656 $350,000 by a fraction, the numerator of which is the amount of
2657 funds distributed to the Local Government Housing Trust Fund
2658 pursuant to s. 201.15(4)(d) and the denominator of which is the
2659 total amount of funds distributed to the Local Government
2660 Housing Trust Fund pursuant to s. 201.15.
2661 Section 39. Paragraph (n) of subsection (5) of section
2662 420.9075, Florida Statutes, is amended, paragraph (o) is added
2663 to that subsection, and paragraph (b) of subsection (13) of that
2664 section is reenacted, to read:
2665 420.9075 Local housing assistance plans; partnerships.—
2666 (5) The following criteria apply to awards made to eligible
2667 sponsors or eligible persons for the purpose of providing
2668 eligible housing:
2669 (n) Funds from the local housing distribution not used to
2670 meet the criteria established in paragraph (a), or paragraph
2671 (c), or paragraph (o), or not used for the administration of a
2672 local housing assistance plan must be used for housing
2673 production and finance activities, including, but not limited
2674 to, financing preconstruction activities or the purchase of
2675 existing units, providing rental housing, and providing home
2676 ownership training to prospective home buyers and owners of
2677 homes assisted through the local housing assistance plan.
2678 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (a) and
2679 (c), program income as defined in s. 420.9071(26) may also be
2680 used to fund activities described in this paragraph.
2681 2. When preconstruction due-diligence activities conducted
2682 as part of a preservation strategy show that preservation of the
2683 units is not feasible and will not result in the production of
2684 an eligible unit, such costs shall be deemed a program expense
2685 rather than an administrative expense if such program expenses
2686 do not exceed 3 percent of the annual local housing
2687 distribution.
2688 3. If both an award under the local housing assistance plan
2689 and federal low-income housing tax credits are used to assist a
2690 project and there is a conflict between the criteria prescribed
2691 in this subsection and the requirements of s. 42 of the Internal
2692 Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, the county or eligible
2693 municipality may resolve the conflict by giving precedence to
2694 the requirements of s. 42 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
2695 as amended, in lieu of following the criteria prescribed in this
2696 subsection with the exception of paragraphs (a) and (g) of this
2697 subsection.
2698 4. Each county and each eligible municipality may award
2699 funds as a grant for construction, rehabilitation, or repair as
2700 part of disaster recovery or emergency repairs or to remedy
2701 accessibility or health and safety deficiencies. Any other
2702 grants must be approved as part of the local housing assistance
2703 plan.
2704 (o) Notwithstanding paragraphs (a) and (c), up to 25
2705 percent of the funds made available in each county and eligible
2706 municipality from the local housing distribution may be used to
2707 preserve multifamily affordable rental housing funded through
2708 United States Department of Agriculture loans. These funds may
2709 be used to rehabilitate housing, extend affordability periods,
2710 or acquire or transfer properties in partnership with private
2711 organizations. This paragraph expires on June 30, 2031.
2712 (13)
2713 (b) If, as a result of its review of the annual report, the
2714 corporation determines that a county or eligible municipality
2715 has failed to implement a local housing incentive strategy, or,
2716 if applicable, a local housing incentive plan, it shall send a
2717 notice of termination of the local government’s share of the
2718 local housing distribution by certified mail to the affected
2719 county or eligible municipality.
2720 1. The notice must specify a date of termination of the
2721 funding if the affected county or eligible municipality does not
2722 implement the plan or strategy and provide for a local response.
2723 A county or eligible municipality shall respond to the
2724 corporation within 30 days after receipt of the notice of
2725 termination.
2726 2. The corporation shall consider the local response that
2727 extenuating circumstances precluded implementation and grant an
2728 extension to the timeframe for implementation. Such an extension
2729 shall be made in the form of an extension agreement that
2730 provides a timeframe for implementation. The chief elected
2731 official of a county or eligible municipality or his or her
2732 designee shall have the authority to enter into the agreement on
2733 behalf of the local government.
2734 3. If the county or the eligible municipality has not
2735 implemented the incentive strategy or entered into an extension
2736 agreement by the termination date specified in the notice, the
2737 local housing distribution share terminates, and any uncommitted
2738 local housing distribution funds held by the affected county or
2739 eligible municipality in its local housing assistance trust fund
2740 shall be transferred to the Local Government Housing Trust Fund
2741 to the credit of the corporation to administer.
2742 4.a. If the affected local government fails to meet the
2743 timeframes specified in the agreement, the corporation shall
2744 terminate funds. The corporation shall send a notice of
2745 termination of the local government’s share of the local housing
2746 distribution by certified mail to the affected local government.
2747 The notice shall specify the termination date, and any
2748 uncommitted funds held by the affected local government shall be
2749 transferred to the Local Government Housing Trust Fund to the
2750 credit of the corporation to administer.
2751 b. If the corporation terminates funds to a county, but an
2752 eligible municipality receiving a local housing distribution
2753 pursuant to an interlocal agreement maintains compliance with
2754 program requirements, the corporation shall thereafter
2755 distribute directly to the participating eligible municipality
2756 its share calculated in the manner provided in ss. 420.9072 and
2757 420.9073.
2758 c. Any county or eligible municipality whose local
2759 distribution share has been terminated may subsequently elect to
2760 receive directly its local distribution share by adopting the
2761 ordinance, resolution, and local housing assistance plan in the
2762 manner and according to the procedures provided in ss. 420.907
2763 420.9079.
2764 Section 40. Subsections (1), (2), and (5) of section
2765 1001.451, Florida Statutes, are amended, and subsection (6) is
2766 added to that section, to read:
2767 1001.451 Regional consortium service organizations.—In
2768 order to provide a full range of programs to larger numbers of
2769 students, minimize duplication of services, and encourage the
2770 development of new programs and services:
2771 (1) School districts with 20,000 or fewer unweighted full
2772 time equivalent students, developmental research (laboratory)
2773 schools established pursuant to s. 1002.32, and the Florida
2774 School for the Deaf and the Blind may enter into cooperative
2775 agreements to form a regional consortium service organization.
2776 Each regional consortium service organization shall provide any
2777 of, at a minimum, three of the following services determined
2778 necessary and appropriate by the board of directors:
2779 (a) Exceptional student education;
2780 (b) Safe schools support teacher education centers;
2781 environmental education;
2782 (c) State and federal grant procurement and coordination;
2783 (d) Data services processing; health
2784 (e) Insurance services;
2785 (f) Risk management insurance;
2786 (g) Professional learning;
2787 (h) College, career, and workforce development;
2788 (i) Business and operational services staff development;
2789 (j) Purchasing; or
2790 (k) Planning and accountability.
2791 (2)(a) Each regional consortium service organization that
2792 consists of four or more school districts is eligible to
2793 receive, through the Department of Education, subject to the
2794 funds provided in the General Appropriations Act, an allocation
2795 incentive grant of $150,000 $50,000 per school district and
2796 eligible member to be used for the delivery of services within
2797 the participating school districts. The determination of
2798 services and use of such funds must shall be established by the
2799 board of directors of the regional consortium service
2800 organization. The funds must shall be distributed to each
2801 regional consortium service organization no later than 30 days
2802 following the release of the funds to the department. Each
2803 regional consortium service organization shall submit an annual
2804 report to the department regarding the use of funds for
2805 consortia services. Unexpended amounts in any fund in a
2806 consortium’s current year operating budget must be carried
2807 forward and included as the balance forward for that fund in the
2808 approved operating budget for the following year. Each regional
2809 consortium service organization shall provide quarterly
2810 financial reports to member districts.
2811 (b) Member districts shall designate a district that will
2812 serve as a fiscal agent for contractual and reporting purposes.
2813 Such fiscal agent district is entitled to reasonable
2814 compensation for accounting and other services performed. The
2815 regional consortium service organization shall retain all funds
2816 received from grants or contracted services to cover indirect or
2817 administrative costs associated with the provision of such
2818 services. The regional consortium service organization board of
2819 directors shall determine the products and services to be
2820 provided by the consortium; however, in all contractual matters,
2821 the school board of the fiscal agent district shall act on
2822 proposed actions of the regional consortium service
2823 organization.
2824 (c) The regional consortium service organization board of
2825 directors shall recommend establishment of positions and
2826 individuals for appointment to the fiscal agent district.
2827 Personnel must be employed under the personnel policies of the
2828 fiscal agent district and are deemed to be public employees of
2829 the fiscal agent district. The regional consortium service
2830 organization board of directors may recommend a salary schedule
2831 and job descriptions specific to its personnel.
2832 (d) The regional consortium service organization may
2833 purchase or lease property and facilities essential for its
2834 operations and is responsible for their maintenance and
2835 associated overhead costs.
2836 (e) If a regional consortium service organization is
2837 dissolved, any revenue from the sale of assets must be
2838 distributed among the member districts as determined by the
2839 board of directors Application for incentive grants shall be
2840 made to the Commissioner of Education by July 30 of each year
2841 for distribution to qualifying regional consortium service
2842 organizations by January 1 of the fiscal year.
2843 (5) The board of directors of a regional consortium service
2844 organization may use various means to generate revenue in
2845 support of its activities, including, but not limited to,
2846 contracting for services to nonmember districts. The board of
2847 directors may acquire, enjoy, use, and dispose of patents,
2848 copyrights, and trademarks and any licenses and associated other
2849 rights or interests thereunder or therein. Ownership of all such
2850 patents, copyrights, trademarks, licenses, and associated rights
2851 or interests thereunder or therein shall vest in the state, with
2852 the board of directors having full right of use and full right
2853 to retain associated the revenues derived therefrom. Any funds
2854 realized from contracted services, patents, copyrights,
2855 trademarks, or licenses are shall be considered internal funds
2856 as provided in s. 1011.07. A fund balance must be established
2857 for maintaining or expanding services, facilities maintenance,
2858 terminal pay, and other liabilities Such funds shall be used to
2859 support the organization’s marketing and research and
2860 development activities in order to improve and increase services
2861 to its member districts.
2862 (6) A regional consortium service organization is
2863 authorized to administer the Regional Consortia Service
2864 Organization Supplemental Services Program under s. 1001.4511.
2865 Section 41. Section 1001.4511, Florida Statutes, is created
2866 to read:
2867 1001.4511 Regional Consortia Service Organization
2868 Supplemental Services Program.—
2869 (1) There is created the Regional Consortia Service
2870 Organization Supplemental Services Program to increase the
2871 ability of regional consortium service organizations under s.
2872 1001.451 to provide programs and services to consortia members
2873 through cooperative agreements. Program funds may be used to
2874 supplement member needs related to transportation; district
2875 finance personnel services; property insurance, including
2876 property insurance obtained from any source; cybersecurity
2877 support; school safety; college, career, and workforce
2878 development; academic support; and behavior support within
2879 exceptional student education services.
2880 (2) Each regional consortium service organization shall
2881 annually report to the President of the Senate and the Speaker
2882 of the House of Representatives the distribution of funds,
2883 including members awarded and services provided.
2884 (3) Notwithstanding s. 216.301 and pursuant to s. 216.351,
2885 funds allocated for this purpose which are not disbursed by June
2886 30 of the fiscal year in which the funds are allocated may be
2887 carried forward for up to 5 years after the effective date of
2888 the original appropriation.
2889 Section 42. Section 1009.635, Florida Statutes, is created
2890 to read:
2891 1009.635 Rural Incentive for Professional Educators.—
2892 (1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Rural Incentive for Professional
2893 Educators (RIPE) Program is established within the Department of
2894 Education to support the recruitment and retention of qualified
2895 instructional personnel in rural communities. The program shall
2896 provide financial assistance for the repayment of student loans
2897 for eligible participants who establish permanent residency and
2898 employment in rural areas of opportunity.
2899 (2) ELIGIBILITY.—An individual is eligible to participate
2900 in the RIPE Program if he or she does all of the following:
2901 (a) Establishes permanent residency on or after July 1,
2902 2025, in a rural area of opportunity as designated pursuant to
2903 s. 288.0656. The address on an individual’s state-issued
2904 identification card or driver license is evidence of residence.
2905 (b) Secures full-time employment as a teacher or
2906 administrator in a private school as defined in s. 1002.01, or
2907 as instructional or administrative personnel as those terms are
2908 defined in s. 1012.01(2) and (3), respectively, in the public
2909 school district located within the same rural area of
2910 opportunity as he or she resides.
2911 (c) Holds an associate degree, bachelor’s degree,
2912 postgraduate degree, or certificate from an accredited
2913 institution earned before establishing residency.
2914 (d) Has an active student loan balance incurred for the
2915 completion of the qualifying degree or certificate.
2916 (3) LOAN REPAYMENT.—Eligible participants may receive up to
2917 $15,000 in total student loan repayment assistance over 5 years,
2918 disbursed in annual payments not to exceed $3,000 per year.
2919 Payments shall be made directly to the lender servicing the
2920 participant’s student loan.
2921 (4) AWARD DISTRIBUTION.—Before disbursement of an award,
2922 the department shall verify that the participant:
2923 (a) Has maintained continuous employment with the school
2924 district in an instructional or administrative position;
2925 (b) Has received a rating of effective or highly effective
2926 pursuant to s. 1012.34; and
2927 (c) Has not been placed on probation, had his or her
2928 certificate suspended or revoked, or been placed on the
2929 disqualification list, pursuant to s. 1012.796.
2930 (5) ADMINISTRATION.—The program shall be administered by
2931 the Office of Student Financial Assistance within the Department
2932 of Education, which shall:
2933 (a) Develop application procedures requiring documentation,
2934 including proof of residency, verification of employment,
2935 official academic transcripts, and details of outstanding
2936 student loans; and
2937 (b) Monitor compliance with program requirements.
2938 (6) RULEMAKING.—The State Board of Education shall adopt
2939 rules no later than January 31, 2026, to administer this
2940 section.
2941 Section 43. Subsection (3) of section 1013.62, Florida
2942 Statutes, is amended to read:
2943 1013.62 Charter schools capital outlay funding.—
2944 (3) If the school board levies the discretionary millage
2945 authorized in s. 1011.71(2), the department must shall use the
2946 following calculation methodology to determine the amount of
2947 revenue that a school district must distribute to each eligible
2948 charter school:
2949 (a) Reduce the total discretionary millage revenue by the
2950 school district’s annual debt service obligation incurred as of
2951 March 1, 2017, which has not been subsequently retired, and:
2952 1. Beginning in the 2025-2026 fiscal year, for any district
2953 with an active project or an outstanding participation
2954 requirement balance, any amount of participation requirement
2955 pursuant to s. 1013.64(2)(a)8. that is being satisfied by
2956 revenues raised by the discretionary millage; or
2957 2. For construction projects for which Special Facilities
2958 Construction Account funding is sought beginning in the 2025
2959 2026 fiscal year, the value of 1 mill from the revenue generated
2960 pursuant to s. 1013.64(2)(a)8.b.
2961 (b) Divide the school district’s adjusted discretionary
2962 millage revenue by the district’s total capital outlay full-time
2963 equivalent membership and the total number of full-time
2964 equivalent students of each eligible charter school to determine
2965 a capital outlay allocation per full-time equivalent student.
2966 (c) Multiply the capital outlay allocation per full-time
2967 equivalent student by the total number of full-time equivalent
2968 students of each eligible charter school to determine the
2969 capital outlay allocation for each charter school.
2970 (d) If applicable, reduce the capital outlay allocation
2971 identified in paragraph (c) by the total amount of state funds
2972 allocated to each eligible charter school in subsection (2) to
2973 determine the maximum calculated capital outlay allocation. The
2974 amount of funds a school district must distribute to charter
2975 schools shall be as follows:
2976 1. For fiscal year 2023-2024, the amount is 20 percent of
2977 the amount calculated under this paragraph.
2978 2. For fiscal year 2024-2025, the amount is 40 percent of
2979 the amount calculated under this paragraph.
2980 3. For fiscal year 2025-2026, the amount is 60 percent of
2981 the amount calculated under this paragraph.
2982 4. For fiscal year 2026-2027, the amount is 80 percent of
2983 the amount calculated under this paragraph.
2984 5. For fiscal year 2027-2028, and each fiscal year
2985 thereafter, the amount is 100 percent of the amount calculated
2986 under this paragraph.
2987 (e) School districts shall distribute capital outlay funds
2988 to eligible charter schools no later than February 1 of each
2989 year, as required by this subsection, based on the amount of
2990 funds received by the district school board. School districts
2991 shall distribute any remaining capital outlay funds, as required
2992 by this subsection, upon the receipt of such funds until the
2993 total amount calculated pursuant to this subsection is
2994 distributed.
2995
2996 By October 1 of each year, each school district shall certify to
2997 the department the amount of debt service that and participation
2998 requirement that complies with the requirement of paragraph (a)
2999 and can be reduced from the total discretionary millage revenue.
3000 Each school district shall also certify the amount of the
3001 participation requirement that complies with paragraph (a), or
3002 certify the value of 1 mill from revenue generated pursuant to
3003 s. 1013.64(2)(a)8.b. that can be reduced from the total
3004 discretionary millage revenue, as applicable. The Auditor
3005 General shall verify compliance with the requirements of
3006 paragraph (a) and s. 1011.71(2)(e) during scheduled operational
3007 audits of school districts.
3008 Section 44. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
3009 1013.64, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
3010 1013.64 Funds for comprehensive educational plant needs;
3011 construction cost maximums for school district capital
3012 projects.—Allocations from the Public Education Capital Outlay
3013 and Debt Service Trust Fund to the various boards for capital
3014 outlay projects shall be determined as follows:
3015 (2)(a) The department shall establish, as a part of the
3016 Public Education Capital Outlay and Debt Service Trust Fund, a
3017 separate account, in an amount determined by the Legislature, to
3018 be known as the “Special Facility Construction Account.” The
3019 Special Facility Construction Account shall be used to provide
3020 necessary construction funds to school districts which have
3021 urgent construction needs but which lack sufficient resources at
3022 present, and cannot reasonably anticipate sufficient resources
3023 within the period of the next 3 years, for these purposes from
3024 currently authorized sources of capital outlay revenue. A school
3025 district requesting funding from the Special Facility
3026 Construction Account shall submit one specific construction
3027 project, not to exceed one complete educational plant, to the
3028 Special Facility Construction Committee. A district may not
3029 receive funding for more than one approved project in any 3-year
3030 period or while any portion of the district’s participation
3031 requirement is outstanding. The first year of the 3-year period
3032 shall be the first year a district receives an appropriation.
3033 The department shall encourage a construction program that
3034 reduces the average size of schools in the district. The request
3035 must meet the following criteria to be considered by the
3036 committee:
3037 1. The project must be deemed a critical need and must be
3038 recommended for funding by the Special Facility Construction
3039 Committee. Before developing construction plans for the proposed
3040 facility, the district school board must request a
3041 preapplication review by the Special Facility Construction
3042 Committee or a project review subcommittee convened by the chair
3043 of the committee to include two representatives of the
3044 department and two staff members from school districts not
3045 eligible to participate in the program. A school district may
3046 request a preapplication review at any time; however, if the
3047 district school board seeks inclusion in the department’s next
3048 annual capital outlay legislative budget request, the
3049 preapplication review request must be made before February 1.
3050 Within 90 days after receiving the preapplication review
3051 request, the committee or subcommittee must meet in the school
3052 district to review the project proposal and existing facilities.
3053 To determine whether the proposed project is a critical need,
3054 the committee or subcommittee shall consider, at a minimum, the
3055 capacity of all existing facilities within the district as
3056 determined by the Florida Inventory of School Houses; the
3057 district’s pattern of student growth; the district’s existing
3058 and projected capital outlay full-time equivalent student
3059 enrollment as determined by the demographic, revenue, and
3060 education estimating conferences established in s. 216.136; the
3061 district’s existing satisfactory student stations; the use of
3062 all existing district property and facilities; grade level
3063 configurations; and any other information that may affect the
3064 need for the proposed project.
3065 2. The construction project must be recommended in the most
3066 recent survey or survey amendment cooperatively prepared by the
3067 district and the department, and approved by the department
3068 under the rules of the State Board of Education. If a district
3069 employs a consultant in the preparation of a survey or survey
3070 amendment, the consultant may not be employed by or receive
3071 compensation from a third party that designs or constructs a
3072 project recommended by the survey.
3073 3. The construction project must appear on the district’s
3074 approved project priority list under the rules of the State
3075 Board of Education.
3076 4. The district must have selected and had approved a site
3077 for the construction project in compliance with s. 1013.36 and
3078 the rules of the State Board of Education.
3079 5. The district shall have developed a district school
3080 board adopted list of facilities that do not exceed the norm for
3081 net square feet occupancy requirements under the State
3082 Requirements for Educational Facilities, using all possible
3083 programmatic combinations for multiple use of space to obtain
3084 maximum daily use of all spaces within the facility under
3085 consideration.
3086 6. Upon construction, the total cost per student station,
3087 including change orders, must not exceed the cost per student
3088 station as provided in subsection (6) unless approved by the
3089 Special Facility Construction Committee. At the discretion of
3090 the committee, costs that exceed the cost per student station
3091 for special facilities may include legal and administrative
3092 fees, the cost of site improvements or related offsite
3093 improvements, the cost of complying with public shelter and
3094 hurricane hardening requirements, cost overruns created by a
3095 disaster as defined in s. 252.34(2), costs of security
3096 enhancements approved by the school safety specialist, and
3097 unforeseeable circumstances beyond the district’s control.
3098 7. There shall be an agreement signed by the district
3099 school board stating that it will advertise for bids within 30
3100 days of receipt of its encumbrance authorization from the
3101 department.
3102 8.a.(I) For construction projects for which Special
3103 Facilities Construction Account funding is sought before the
3104 2019-2020 fiscal year, the district shall, at the time of the
3105 request and for a continuing period necessary to meet the
3106 district’s participation requirement, levy the maximum millage
3107 against its nonexempt assessed property value as allowed in s.
3108 1011.71(2) or shall raise an equivalent amount of revenue from
3109 the school capital outlay surtax authorized under s. 212.055(6).
3110 (II) Beginning with construction projects for which Special
3111 Facilities Construction Account funding is sought in the 2019
3112 2020 fiscal year, the district shall, for a minimum of 3 years
3113 before submitting the request and for a continuing period
3114 necessary to meet its participation requirement, levy the
3115 maximum millage against the district’s nonexempt assessed
3116 property value as authorized under s. 1011.71(2) or shall raise
3117 an equivalent amount of revenue from the school capital outlay
3118 surtax authorized under s. 212.055(6).
3119 (III) Beginning with the 2025-2026 fiscal year, any
3120 district with an a new or active project or an outstanding
3121 participation requirement balance, funded under the provisions
3122 of this subsection, shall be required to budget no more than the
3123 value of 1 mill per year to the project until the district’s
3124 participation requirement relating to the local discretionary
3125 capital improvement millage or the equivalent amount of revenue
3126 from the school capital outlay surtax is satisfied.
3127 b. For construction projects for which Special Facilities
3128 Construction Account funding is sought beginning in the 2025
3129 2026 fiscal year, the district shall, for a minimum of 3 years
3130 before submitting the request and for the initial year of the
3131 appropriation and the 2 years following the initial
3132 appropriation, levy the maximum millage against the district’s
3133 nonexempt assessed property value as authorized under s.
3134 1011.71(2) or shall raise an equivalent amount of revenue from
3135 the school capital outlay surtax authorized under s. 212.055(6).
3136 The district is not required to budget the funds toward the
3137 project, but must use the funds as authorized pursuant to s.
3138 1011.71 or s. 212.055(6), as applicable.
3139 9. If a contract has not been signed 90 days after the
3140 advertising of bids, the funding for the specific project must
3141 shall revert to the Special Facility New Construction Account to
3142 be reallocated to other projects on the list. However, an
3143 additional 90 days may be granted by the commissioner.
3144 10. The department shall certify the inability of the
3145 district to fund the survey-recommended project over a
3146 continuous 3-year period using projected capital outlay revenue
3147 derived from s. 9(d), Art. XII of the State Constitution, as
3148 amended, paragraph (3)(a) of this section, and s. 1011.71(2).
3149 11.a. For projects funded before the 2025-2026 fiscal year,
3150 the district shall have on file with the department an adopted
3151 resolution acknowledging its commitment to satisfy its
3152 participation requirement, which is equivalent to all
3153 unencumbered and future revenue acquired from s. 9(d), Art. XII
3154 of the State Constitution, as amended, paragraph (3)(a) of this
3155 section, and s. 1011.71(2), in the year of the initial
3156 appropriation and for the 2 years immediately following the
3157 initial appropriation.
3158 b. For projects funded during the 2025-2026 fiscal year,
3159 and thereafter, the district shall have on file with the
3160 department an adopted resolution acknowledging its commitment to
3161 comply with the requirements of this paragraph.
3162 12. Phase I plans must be approved by the district school
3163 board as being in compliance with the building and life safety
3164 codes before June 1 of the year the application is made.
3165 Section 45. For the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the sum of $1
3166 million in recurring funds from the General Revenue Fund is
3167 appropriated to the Florida Small Business Development Center
3168 Network under s. 288.001, Florida Statutes, to expand services
3169 in rural communities. The funds shall be allocated to the Office
3170 of Rural Prosperity budget entity within the Department of
3171 Commerce in the Special Categories–SBDCN Rural Services specific
3172 appropriation category.
3173 Section 46. (1) For the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the sums of
3174 $1,827,591 in recurring funds and $652,327 in nonrecurring funds
3175 are appropriated from the General Revenue Fund to the Department
3176 of Commerce.
3177 (2) The recurring general revenue funds shall be allocated
3178 to the Office of Rural Prosperity budget entity in the following
3179 specific appropriations categories: $1,585,823 in Salaries and
3180 Benefits, $175,961 in Expenses, $50,000 in Contracted Services,
3181 $10,000 in Operating Capital Outlay, and $5,807 in Transfer to
3182 the Department of Management Services/Statewide Human Resources
3183 Contract.
3184 (3) The nonrecurring general revenue funds shall be
3185 allocated to the Office of Rural Prosperity budget entity in the
3186 following specific appropriations categories: $92,327 in
3187 Expenses and $560,000 in Acquisition of Motor Vehicles.
3188 (4) The Department of Commerce is authorized to establish
3189 17.00 full-time equivalent positions with associated salary rate
3190 of 1,060,000 in the Office of Rural Prosperity for the purpose
3191 of implementing this act. The following specific positions,
3192 classifications, and pay plans are authorized: 1.00 Director of
3193 General Operation, Class Code 9327, Pay Grade 940; 15.00
3194 Government Analyst II, Class Code 2225, Pay Grade 026; and 1.00
3195 Administrative Assistant II, Class Code 0712, Pay Grade 018.
3196 Section 47. For the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the recurring
3197 sum of $8 million from the General Revenue Fund is appropriated
3198 to the Office of Rural Prosperity within the Department of
3199 Commerce to implement the Renaissance Grants Program created by
3200 s. 288.014, Florida Statutes. No funds may be used by the state
3201 for administrative costs.
3202 Section 48. For the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the recurring
3203 sum of $500,000 from the Grants and Donations Trust Fund within
3204 the Department of Commerce is appropriated to the Office of
3205 Rural Prosperity within the Department of Commerce to implement
3206 the Public Infrastructure Smart Technology Grant Program created
3207 by s. 288.0175, Florida Statutes.
3208 Section 49. For the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the sums of $4
3209 million in nonrecurring funds and $1 million in recurring funds
3210 from the General Revenue Fund are appropriated to the Office of
3211 Rural Prosperity within the Department of Commerce to implement
3212 the Rural Community Development Revolving Loan Fund under s.
3213 288.065, Florida Statutes, as amended by this act.
3214 Section 50. For the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the sums of $40
3215 million in nonrecurring funds and $5 million in recurring funds
3216 from the General Revenue Fund are appropriated to the Office of
3217 Rural Prosperity within the Department of Commerce to implement
3218 the Rural Infrastructure Fund under s. 288.0655, Florida
3219 Statutes, as amended by this act.
3220 Section 51. For the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the sum of
3221 $250,000 in recurring funds from the Grants and Donations Trust
3222 Fund within the Department of Commerce is appropriated to the
3223 Office of Rural Prosperity within the Department of Commerce to
3224 implement s. 288.0657, Florida Statutes, as amended by this act.
3225 Section 52. For the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the sum of $30
3226 million in nonrecurring funds from the General Revenue Fund is
3227 appropriated to the Florida Housing Finance Corporation to be
3228 used to preserve affordable multifamily rental housing in rural
3229 communities funded through United States Department of
3230 Agriculture loans. The funds provided in this appropriation
3231 shall be used to issue competitive requests for application for
3232 the rehabilitation or acquisition of such properties to ensure
3233 continued affordability. By October 1, 2026, the Florida Housing
3234 Finance Corporation shall submit a report to the President of
3235 the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives on
3236 projects funded pursuant to this section, which report must
3237 include the number of units preserved and the financing
3238 portfolio for each project.
3239 Section 53. For the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the sum of $25
3240 million in nonrecurring funds from the General Revenue Fund is
3241 appropriated to the Department of Health for the purpose of
3242 implementing the Rural Access to Primary and Preventive Care
3243 Grant Program created under s. 381.403, Florida Statutes. Grant
3244 funds shall be awarded over a 5-year period. Notwithstanding s.
3245 216.301, Florida Statutes, and pursuant to s. 216.351, Florida
3246 Statutes, the unexpended balance of funds appropriated pursuant
3247 to this section which is not disbursed by June 30 of the fiscal
3248 year in which funds are appropriated may be carried forward
3249 through the 2033-2034 fiscal year.
3250 Section 54. For the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the sum of $5
3251 million in nonrecurring funds from the General Revenue Fund is
3252 appropriated to the Department of Health for the purpose of
3253 implementing the Stroke, Cardiac, and Obstetric Response and
3254 Education Grant Program under s. 381.9856, Florida Statutes.
3255 Notwithstanding s. 216.301, Florida Statutes, and pursuant to s.
3256 216.351, Florida Statutes, the unexpended balance of funds
3257 appropriated pursuant to this section which is not disbursed by
3258 June 30 of the fiscal year in which funds are appropriated may
3259 be carried forward through the 2029-2030 fiscal year.
3260 Section 55. For the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the sum of $25
3261 million in nonrecurring funds from the General Revenue Fund is
3262 appropriated in fixed capital outlay to the Department of Health
3263 for the purpose of implementing the rural hospital capital
3264 improvement grant program under s. 395.6061, Florida Statutes.
3265 Section 56. For the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the sums of
3266 $187,255 in recurring funds from the General Revenue Fund and
3267 $250,358 in recurring funds from the Medical Care Trust Fund are
3268 appropriated to the Agency for Health Care Administration to
3269 establish a Diagnosis-Related Grouping (DRG) reimbursement
3270 methodology for critical access hospitals, as defined in s.
3271 408.07, Florida Statutes, for the purpose of providing inpatient
3272 reimbursement to such a hospital in amounts comparable to the
3273 reimbursement the hospital would receive for inpatient services
3274 from the federal Medicare program. The 2025-2026 fiscal year
3275 General Appropriations Act shall establish the DRG reimbursement
3276 methodology for critical access hospital inpatient services as
3277 directed in s. 409.905(5)(c), Florida Statutes. Health plans
3278 that participate in the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care program
3279 shall pass through the fee increase to providers in this
3280 appropriation.
3281 Section 57. For the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the sums of
3282 $7,508,124 in recurring funds from the General Revenue Fund and
3283 $10,038,322 in recurring funds from the Medical Care Trust Fund
3284 are appropriated to the Agency for Health Care Administration to
3285 establish an Enhanced Ambulatory Patient Grouping (EAPG)
3286 reimbursement methodology for critical access hospitals, as
3287 defined in s. 408.07, Florida Statutes, for the purpose of
3288 providing outpatient reimbursement to such a hospital in amounts
3289 comparable to the reimbursement the hospital would receive for
3290 outpatient services from the federal Medicare program. The 2025
3291 2026 fiscal year General Appropriations Act shall establish the
3292 EAPG reimbursement methodology for critical access hospital
3293 outpatient services as directed in s. 409.905(6)(b), Florida
3294 Statutes. Health plans that participate in the Statewide
3295 Medicaid Managed Care program shall pass through the fee
3296 increase to providers in this appropriation.
3297 Section 58. For the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the sum of $3.6
3298 million in recurring funds from the General Revenue Fund is
3299 appropriated to the Department of Education to implement s.
3300 1001.451, Florida Statutes, as amended by this act.
3301 Section 59. For the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the sum of $25
3302 million in recurring funds is appropriated from the General
3303 Revenue Fund to the Department of Education to be distributed to
3304 regional consortium service organizations under s. 1001.451,
3305 Florida Statutes, in order to provide funds pursuant to s.
3306 1001.4511, Florida Statutes. These funds shall be allocated as
3307 follows: $5,555,149 to the Heartland Educational Consortium;
3308 $11,912,923 to the North East Florida Educational Consortium;
3309 and $7,531,928 to the Panhandle Area Educational Consortium. The
3310 funds must be distributed to each regional consortium service
3311 organization no later than 30 days following the release of the
3312 funds to the department.
3313 Section 60. For the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the sum of $7
3314 million in recurring funds from the General Revenue Fund is
3315 appropriated to the Department of Education to implement the
3316 Rural Incentive for Professional Educators (RIPE) Program, s.
3317 1009.635, Florida Statutes, as created by this act.
3318 Section 61. Subsection (3) of section 163.3187, Florida
3319 Statutes, is amended to read:
3320 163.3187 Process for adoption of small scale comprehensive
3321 plan amendment.—
3322 (3) If the small scale development amendment involves a
3323 site within a rural area of opportunity as defined under s.
3324 288.0656 s. 288.0656(2)(d) for the duration of such designation,
3325 the acreage limit listed in subsection (1) shall be increased by
3326 100 percent. The local government approving the small scale plan
3327 amendment shall certify to the state land planning agency that
3328 the plan amendment furthers the economic objectives set forth in
3329 the executive order issued under s. 288.0656(7), and the
3330 property subject to the plan amendment shall undergo public
3331 review to ensure that all concurrency requirements and federal,
3332 state, and local environmental permit requirements are met.
3333 Section 62. Section 212.205, Florida Statutes, is amended
3334 to read:
3335 212.205 Sales tax distribution reporting.—By March 15 of
3336 each year, each person who received a distribution pursuant to
3337 s. 212.20(6)(d)7.b. and c. s. 212.20(6)(d)6.b. and c. in the
3338 preceding calendar year shall report to the Office of Economic
3339 and Demographic Research the following information:
3340 (1) An itemized accounting of all expenditures of the funds
3341 distributed in the preceding calendar year, including amounts
3342 spent on debt service.
3343 (2) A statement indicating what portion of the distributed
3344 funds have been pledged for debt service.
3345 (3) The original principal amount and current debt service
3346 schedule of any bonds or other borrowing for which the
3347 distributed funds have been pledged for debt service.
3348 Section 63. Section 257.191, Florida Statutes, is amended
3349 to read:
3350 257.191 Construction grants.—The Division of Library and
3351 Information Services may accept and administer library
3352 construction moneys appropriated to it and shall allocate such
3353 appropriation to municipal, county, and regional libraries in
3354 the form of library construction grants on a matching basis. The
3355 local matching portion shall be no less than the grant amount,
3356 on a dollar-for-dollar basis, up to the maximum grant amount,
3357 unless the matching requirement is waived pursuant to s. 288.019
3358 by s. 288.06561. Initiation of a library construction project 12
3359 months or less prior to the grant award under this section does
3360 shall not affect the eligibility of an applicant to receive a
3361 library construction grant. The division shall adopt rules for
3362 the administration of library construction grants. For the
3363 purposes of this section, s. 257.21 does not apply.
3364 Section 64. Subsection (2) of section 257.193, Florida
3365 Statutes, is amended to read:
3366 257.193 Community Libraries in Caring Program.—
3367 (2) The purpose of the Community Libraries in Caring
3368 Program is to assist libraries in rural communities, as defined
3369 in s. 288.0656(2) and subject to the provisions of s. 288.019 s.
3370 288.06561, to strengthen their collections and services, improve
3371 literacy in their communities, and improve the economic
3372 viability of their communities.
3373 Section 65. Subsection (17) of section 265.283, Florida
3374 Statutes, is amended to read:
3375 265.283 Definitions.—The following definitions shall apply
3376 to ss. 265.281-265.703:
3377 (17) “Underserved arts community assistance program grants”
3378 means grants used by qualified organizations under the Rural
3379 Economic Development Initiative, pursuant to s. 288.0656 and
3380 subject to the provisions of s. 288.019 ss. 288.0656 and
3381 288.06561, for the purpose of economic and organizational
3382 development for underserved cultural organizations.
3383 Section 66. Paragraphs (a) and (d) of subsection (3) of
3384 section 288.11621, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
3385 288.11621 Spring training baseball franchises.—
3386 (3) USE OF FUNDS.—
3387 (a) A certified applicant may use funds provided under s.
3388 212.20(6)(d)7.b. s. 212.20(6)(d)6.b. only to:
3389 1. Serve the public purpose of acquiring, constructing,
3390 reconstructing, or renovating a facility for a spring training
3391 franchise.
3392 2. Pay or pledge for the payment of debt service on, or to
3393 fund debt service reserve funds, arbitrage rebate obligations,
3394 or other amounts payable with respect thereto, bonds issued for
3395 the acquisition, construction, reconstruction, or renovation of
3396 such facility, or for the reimbursement of such costs or the
3397 refinancing of bonds issued for such purposes.
3398 3. Assist in the relocation of a spring training franchise
3399 from one unit of local government to another only if the
3400 governing board of the current host local government by a
3401 majority vote agrees to relocation.
3402 (d)1. All certified applicants must place unexpended state
3403 funds received pursuant to s. 212.20(6)(d)7.b. s.
3404 212.20(6)(d)6.b. in a trust fund or separate account for use
3405 only as authorized in this section.
3406 2. A certified applicant may request that the Department of
3407 Revenue suspend further distributions of state funds made
3408 available under s. 212.20(6)(d)7.b. s. 212.20(6)(d)6.b. for 12
3409 months after expiration of an existing agreement with a spring
3410 training franchise to provide the certified applicant with an
3411 opportunity to enter into a new agreement with a spring training
3412 franchise, at which time the distributions shall resume.
3413 3. The expenditure of state funds distributed to an
3414 applicant certified before July 1, 2010, must begin within 48
3415 months after the initial receipt of the state funds. In
3416 addition, the construction of, or capital improvements to, a
3417 spring training facility must be completed within 24 months
3418 after the project’s commencement.
3419 Section 67. Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) and paragraphs
3420 (a), (c), and (d) of subsection (3) of section 288.11631,
3421 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
3422 288.11631 Retention of Major League Baseball spring
3423 training baseball franchises.—
3424 (2) CERTIFICATION PROCESS.—
3425 (c) Each applicant certified on or after July 1, 2013,
3426 shall enter into an agreement with the department which:
3427 1. Specifies the amount of the state incentive funding to
3428 be distributed. The amount of state incentive funding per
3429 certified applicant may not exceed $20 million. However, if a
3430 certified applicant’s facility is used by more than one spring
3431 training franchise, the maximum amount may not exceed $50
3432 million, and the Department of Revenue shall make distributions
3433 to the applicant pursuant to s. 212.20(6)(d)7.c. s.
3434 212.20(6)(d)6.c.
3435 2. States the criteria that the certified applicant must
3436 meet in order to remain certified. These criteria must include a
3437 provision stating that the spring training franchise must
3438 reimburse the state for any funds received if the franchise does
3439 not comply with the terms of the contract. If bonds were issued
3440 to construct or renovate a facility for a spring training
3441 franchise, the required reimbursement must be equal to the total
3442 amount of state distributions expected to be paid from the date
3443 the franchise violates the agreement with the applicant through
3444 the final maturity of the bonds.
3445 3. States that the certified applicant is subject to
3446 decertification if the certified applicant fails to comply with
3447 this section or the agreement.
3448 4. States that the department may recover state incentive
3449 funds if the certified applicant is decertified.
3450 5. Specifies the information that the certified applicant
3451 must report to the department.
3452 6. Includes any provision deemed prudent by the department.
3453 (3) USE OF FUNDS.—
3454 (a) A certified applicant may use funds provided under s.
3455 212.20(6)(d)7.c. s. 212.20(6)(d)6.c. only to:
3456 1. Serve the public purpose of constructing or renovating a
3457 facility for a spring training franchise.
3458 2. Pay or pledge for the payment of debt service on, or to
3459 fund debt service reserve funds, arbitrage rebate obligations,
3460 or other amounts payable with respect thereto, bonds issued for
3461 the construction or renovation of such facility, or for the
3462 reimbursement of such costs or the refinancing of bonds issued
3463 for such purposes.
3464 (c) The Department of Revenue may not distribute funds
3465 under s. 212.20(6)(d)7.c. s. 212.20(6)(d)6.c. until July 1,
3466 2016. Further, the Department of Revenue may not distribute
3467 funds to an applicant certified on or after July 1, 2013, until
3468 it receives notice from the department that:
3469 1. The certified applicant has encumbered funds under
3470 either subparagraph (a)1. or subparagraph (a)2.; and
3471 2. If applicable, any existing agreement with a spring
3472 training franchise for the use of a facility has expired.
3473 (d)1. All certified applicants shall place unexpended state
3474 funds received pursuant to s. 212.20(6)(d)7.c. s.
3475 212.20(6)(d)6.c. in a trust fund or separate account for use
3476 only as authorized in this section.
3477 2. A certified applicant may request that the department
3478 notify the Department of Revenue to suspend further
3479 distributions of state funds made available under s.
3480 212.20(6)(d)7.c. s. 212.20(6)(d)6.c. for 12 months after
3481 expiration of an existing agreement with a spring training
3482 franchise to provide the certified applicant with an opportunity
3483 to enter into a new agreement with a spring training franchise,
3484 at which time the distributions shall resume.
3485 3. The expenditure of state funds distributed to an
3486 applicant certified after July 1, 2013, must begin within 48
3487 months after the initial receipt of the state funds. In
3488 addition, the construction or renovation of a spring training
3489 facility must be completed within 24 months after the project’s
3490 commencement.
3491 Section 68. Subsection (1) of section 443.191, Florida
3492 Statutes, is amended to read:
3493 443.191 Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund; establishment
3494 and control.—
3495 (1) There is established, as a separate trust fund apart
3496 from all other public funds of this state, an Unemployment
3497 Compensation Trust Fund, which shall be administered by the
3498 Department of Commerce exclusively for the purposes of this
3499 chapter. The fund must consist of:
3500 (a) All contributions and reimbursements collected under
3501 this chapter;
3502 (b) Interest earned on any moneys in the fund;
3503 (c) Any property or securities acquired through the use of
3504 moneys belonging to the fund;
3505 (d) All earnings of these properties or securities;
3506 (e) All money credited to this state’s account in the
3507 federal Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund under 42 U.S.C. s.
3508 1103;
3509 (f) All money collected for penalties imposed pursuant to
3510 s. 443.151(6)(a);
3511 (g) Advances on the amount in the federal Unemployment
3512 Compensation Trust Fund credited to the state under 42 U.S.C. s.
3513 1321, as requested by the Governor or the Governor’s designee;
3514 and
3515 (h) All money deposited in this account as a distribution
3516 pursuant to s. 212.20(6)(d)7.e. s. 212.20(6)(d)6.e.
3517
3518 Except as otherwise provided in s. 443.1313(4), all moneys in
3519 the fund must be mingled and undivided.
3520 Section 69. Section 571.26, Florida Statutes, is amended to
3521 read:
3522 571.26 Florida Agricultural Promotional Campaign Trust
3523 Fund.—There is hereby created the Florida Agricultural
3524 Promotional Campaign Trust Fund within the Department of
3525 Agriculture and Consumer Services to receive all moneys related
3526 to the Florida Agricultural Promotional Campaign. Moneys
3527 deposited in the trust fund shall be appropriated for the sole
3528 purpose of implementing the Florida Agricultural Promotional
3529 Campaign, except for money deposited in the trust fund pursuant
3530 to s. 212.20(6)(d)7.h. s. 212.20(6)(d)6.h., which shall be held
3531 separately and used solely for the purposes identified in s.
3532 571.265.
3533 Section 70. Subsection (2) of section 571.265, Florida
3534 Statutes, is amended to read:
3535 571.265 Promotion of Florida thoroughbred breeding and of
3536 thoroughbred racing at Florida thoroughbred tracks; distribution
3537 of funds.—
3538 (2) Funds deposited into the Florida Agricultural
3539 Promotional Campaign Trust Fund pursuant to s. 212.20(6)(d)7.f.
3540 s. 212.20(6)(d)6.f. shall be used by the department to encourage
3541 the agricultural activity of breeding thoroughbred racehorses in
3542 this state and to enhance thoroughbred racing conducted at
3543 thoroughbred tracks in this state as provided in this section.
3544 If the funds made available under this section are not fully
3545 used in any one fiscal year, any unused amounts shall be carried
3546 forward in the trust fund into future fiscal years and made
3547 available for distribution as provided in this section.
3548 Section 71. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3549 made by this act to section 20.60, Florida Statutes, in a
3550 reference thereto, subsection (8) of section 288.9935, Florida
3551 Statutes, is reenacted to read:
3552 288.9935 Microfinance Guarantee Program.—
3553 (8) The department must, in the department’s report
3554 required under s. 20.60(10), include an annual report on the
3555 program. The report must, at a minimum, provide:
3556 (a) A comprehensive description of the program, including
3557 an evaluation of its application and guarantee activities,
3558 recommendations for change, and identification of any other
3559 state programs that overlap with the program;
3560 (b) An assessment of the current availability of and access
3561 to credit for entrepreneurs and small businesses in this state;
3562 (c) A summary of the financial and employment results of
3563 the entrepreneurs and small businesses receiving loan
3564 guarantees, including the number of full-time equivalent jobs
3565 created as a result of the guaranteed loans and the amount of
3566 wages paid to employees in the newly created jobs;
3567 (d) Industry data about the borrowers, including the six
3568 digit North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)
3569 code;
3570 (e) The name and location of lenders that receive loan
3571 guarantees;
3572 (f) The number of loan guarantee applications received;
3573 (g) The number, duration, location, and amount of
3574 guarantees made;
3575 (h) The number and amount of guaranteed loans outstanding,
3576 if any;
3577 (i) The number and amount of guaranteed loans with payments
3578 overdue, if any;
3579 (j) The number and amount of guaranteed loans in default,
3580 if any;
3581 (k) The repayment history of the guaranteed loans made; and
3582 (l) An evaluation of the program’s ability to meet the
3583 financial performance measures and objectives specified in
3584 subsection (3).
3585 Section 72. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3586 made by this act to section 218.67, Florida Statutes, in a
3587 reference thereto, paragraph (c) of subsection (5) of section
3588 125.0104, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
3589 125.0104 Tourist development tax; procedure for levying;
3590 authorized uses; referendum; enforcement.—
3591 (5) AUTHORIZED USES OF REVENUE.—
3592 (c) A county located adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico or the
3593 Atlantic Ocean, except a county that receives revenue from taxes
3594 levied pursuant to s. 125.0108, which meets the following
3595 criteria may use up to 10 percent of the tax revenue received
3596 pursuant to this section to reimburse expenses incurred in
3597 providing public safety services, including emergency medical
3598 services as defined in s. 401.107(3), and law enforcement
3599 services, which are needed to address impacts related to
3600 increased tourism and visitors to an area. However, if taxes
3601 collected pursuant to this section are used to reimburse
3602 emergency medical services or public safety services for tourism
3603 or special events, the governing board of a county or
3604 municipality may not use such taxes to supplant the normal
3605 operating expenses of an emergency medical services department,
3606 a fire department, a sheriff’s office, or a police department.
3607 To receive reimbursement, the county must:
3608 1.a. Generate a minimum of $10 million in annual proceeds
3609 from any tax, or any combination of taxes, authorized to be
3610 levied pursuant to this section;
3611 b. Have at least three municipalities; and
3612 c. Have an estimated population of less than 275,000,
3613 according to the most recent population estimate prepared
3614 pursuant to s. 186.901, excluding the inmate population; or
3615 2. Be a fiscally constrained county as described in s.
3616 218.67(1).
3617
3618 The board of county commissioners must by majority vote approve
3619 reimbursement made pursuant to this paragraph upon receipt of a
3620 recommendation from the tourist development council.
3621 Section 73. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3622 made by this act to section 218.67, Florida Statutes, in a
3623 reference thereto, subsection (3) of section 193.624, Florida
3624 Statutes, is reenacted to read:
3625 193.624 Assessment of renewable energy source devices.—
3626 (3) This section applies to the installation of a renewable
3627 energy source device installed on or after January 1, 2013, to
3628 new and existing residential real property. This section applies
3629 to a renewable energy source device installed on or after
3630 January 1, 2018, to all other real property, except when
3631 installed as part of a project planned for a location in a
3632 fiscally constrained county, as defined in s. 218.67(1), and for
3633 which an application for a comprehensive plan amendment or
3634 planned unit development zoning has been filed with the county
3635 on or before December 31, 2017.
3636 Section 74. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3637 made by this act to section 218.67, Florida Statutes, in a
3638 reference thereto, subsection (2) of section 196.182, Florida
3639 Statutes, is reenacted to read:
3640 196.182 Exemption of renewable energy source devices.—
3641 (2) The exemption provided in this section does not apply
3642 to a renewable energy source device that is installed as part of
3643 a project planned for a location in a fiscally constrained
3644 county, as defined in s. 218.67(1), and for which an application
3645 for a comprehensive plan amendment or planned unit development
3646 zoning has been filed with the county on or before December 31,
3647 2017.
3648 Section 75. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3649 made by this act to section 218.67, Florida Statutes, in a
3650 reference thereto, subsection (1) of section 218.12, Florida
3651 Statutes, is reenacted to read:
3652 218.12 Appropriations to offset reductions in ad valorem
3653 tax revenue in fiscally constrained counties.—
3654 (1) Beginning in fiscal year 2008-2009, the Legislature
3655 shall appropriate moneys to offset the reductions in ad valorem
3656 tax revenue experienced by fiscally constrained counties, as
3657 defined in s. 218.67(1), which occur as a direct result of the
3658 implementation of revisions of Art. VII of the State
3659 Constitution approved in the special election held on January
3660 29, 2008. The moneys appropriated for this purpose shall be
3661 distributed in January of each fiscal year among the fiscally
3662 constrained counties based on each county’s proportion of the
3663 total reduction in ad valorem tax revenue resulting from the
3664 implementation of the revision.
3665 Section 76. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3666 made by this act to section 218.67, Florida Statutes, in a
3667 reference thereto, subsection (1) of section 218.125, Florida
3668 Statutes, is reenacted to read:
3669 218.125 Offset for tax loss associated with certain
3670 constitutional amendments affecting fiscally constrained
3671 counties.—
3672 (1) Beginning in the 2010-2011 fiscal year, the Legislature
3673 shall appropriate moneys to offset the reductions in ad valorem
3674 tax revenue experienced by fiscally constrained counties, as
3675 defined in s. 218.67(1), which occur as a direct result of the
3676 implementation of revisions of ss. 3(f) and 4(b), Art. VII of
3677 the State Constitution which were approved in the general
3678 election held in November 2008. The moneys appropriated for this
3679 purpose shall be distributed in January of each fiscal year
3680 among the fiscally constrained counties based on each county’s
3681 proportion of the total reduction in ad valorem tax revenue
3682 resulting from the implementation of the revisions.
3683 Section 77. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3684 made by this act to section 218.67, Florida Statutes, in a
3685 reference thereto, subsection (1) of section 218.135, Florida
3686 Statutes, is reenacted to read:
3687 218.135 Offset for tax loss associated with reductions in
3688 value of certain citrus fruit packing and processing equipment.—
3689 (1) For the 2018-2019 fiscal year, the Legislature shall
3690 appropriate moneys to offset the reductions in ad valorem tax
3691 revenue experienced by fiscally constrained counties, as defined
3692 in s. 218.67(1), which occur as a direct result of the
3693 implementation of s. 193.4516. The moneys appropriated for this
3694 purpose shall be distributed in January 2019 among the fiscally
3695 constrained counties based on each county’s proportion of the
3696 total reduction in ad valorem tax revenue resulting from the
3697 implementation of s. 193.4516.
3698 Section 78. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3699 made by this act to section 218.67, Florida Statutes, in a
3700 reference thereto, subsection (1) of section 218.136, Florida
3701 Statutes, is reenacted to read:
3702 218.136 Offset for ad valorem revenue loss affecting
3703 fiscally constrained counties.—
3704 (1) Beginning in fiscal year 2025-2026, the Legislature
3705 shall appropriate moneys to offset the reductions in ad valorem
3706 tax revenue experienced by fiscally constrained counties, as
3707 defined in s. 218.67(1), which occur as a direct result of the
3708 implementation of revisions of s. 6(a), Art. VII of the State
3709 Constitution approved in the November 2024 general election. The
3710 moneys appropriated for this purpose shall be distributed in
3711 January of each fiscal year among the fiscally constrained
3712 counties based on each county’s proportion of the total
3713 reduction in ad valorem tax revenue resulting from the
3714 implementation of the revision of s. 6(a), Art. VII of the State
3715 Constitution.
3716 Section 79. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3717 made by this act to section 218.67, Florida Statutes, in a
3718 reference thereto, paragraph (cc) of subsection (2) of section
3719 252.35, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
3720 252.35 Emergency management powers; Division of Emergency
3721 Management.—
3722 (2) The division is responsible for carrying out the
3723 provisions of ss. 252.31-252.90. In performing its duties, the
3724 division shall:
3725 (cc) Prioritize technical assistance and training to
3726 fiscally constrained counties as defined in s. 218.67(1) on
3727 aspects of safety measures, preparedness, prevention, response,
3728 recovery, and mitigation relating to natural disasters and
3729 emergencies.
3730 Section 80. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3731 made by this act to section 218.67, Florida Statutes, in a
3732 reference thereto, subsection (4) of section 288.102, Florida
3733 Statutes, is reenacted to read:
3734 288.102 Supply Chain Innovation Grant Program.—
3735 (4) A minimum of a one-to-one match of nonstate resources,
3736 including local, federal, or private funds, to the state
3737 contribution is required. An award may not be made for a project
3738 that is receiving or using state funding from another state
3739 source or statutory program, including tax credits. The one-to
3740 one match requirement is waived for a public entity located in a
3741 fiscally constrained county as defined in s. 218.67(1).
3742 Section 81. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3743 made by this act to section 218.67, Florida Statutes, in a
3744 reference thereto, paragraph (g) of subsection (16) of section
3745 403.064, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
3746 403.064 Reuse of reclaimed water.—
3747 (16) By November 1, 2021, domestic wastewater utilities
3748 that dispose of effluent, reclaimed water, or reuse water by
3749 surface water discharge shall submit to the department for
3750 review and approval a plan for eliminating nonbeneficial surface
3751 water discharge by January 1, 2032, subject to the requirements
3752 of this section. The plan must include the average gallons per
3753 day of effluent, reclaimed water, or reuse water that will no
3754 longer be discharged into surface waters and the date of such
3755 elimination, the average gallons per day of surface water
3756 discharge which will continue in accordance with the
3757 alternatives provided for in subparagraphs (a)2. and 3., and the
3758 level of treatment that the effluent, reclaimed water, or reuse
3759 water will receive before being discharged into a surface water
3760 by each alternative.
3761 (g) This subsection does not apply to any of the following:
3762 1. A domestic wastewater treatment facility that is located
3763 in a fiscally constrained county as described in s. 218.67(1).
3764 2. A domestic wastewater treatment facility that is located
3765 in a municipality that is entirely within a rural area of
3766 opportunity as designated pursuant to s. 288.0656.
3767 3. A domestic wastewater treatment facility that is located
3768 in a municipality that has less than $10 million in total
3769 revenue, as determined by the municipality’s most recent annual
3770 financial report submitted to the Department of Financial
3771 Services in accordance with s. 218.32.
3772 4. A domestic wastewater treatment facility that is
3773 operated by an operator of a mobile home park as defined in s.
3774 723.003 and has a permitted capacity of less than 300,000
3775 gallons per day.
3776 Section 82. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3777 made by this act to section 218.67, Florida Statutes, in
3778 references thereto, subsections (2) and (3) of section 589.08,
3779 Florida Statutes, are reenacted to read:
3780 589.08 Land acquisition restrictions.—
3781 (2) The Florida Forest Service may receive, hold the
3782 custody of, and exercise the control of any lands, and set aside
3783 into a separate, distinct and inviolable fund, any proceeds
3784 derived from the sales of the products of such lands, the use
3785 thereof in any manner, or the sale of such lands save the 25
3786 percent of the proceeds to be paid into the State School Fund as
3787 provided by law. The Florida Forest Service may use and apply
3788 such funds for the acquisition, use, custody, management,
3789 development, or improvement of any lands vested in or subject to
3790 the control of the Florida Forest Service. After full payment
3791 has been made for the purchase of a state forest to the Federal
3792 Government or other grantor, 15 percent of the gross receipts
3793 from a state forest shall be paid to the fiscally constrained
3794 county or counties, as described in s. 218.67(1), in which it is
3795 located in proportion to the acreage located in each county for
3796 use by the county or counties for school purposes.
3797 (3) The Florida Forest Service shall pay 15 percent of the
3798 gross receipts from the Goethe State Forest to each fiscally
3799 constrained county, as described in s. 218.67(1), in which a
3800 portion of the respective forest is located in proportion to the
3801 forest acreage located in such county. The funds must be equally
3802 divided between the board of county commissioners and the school
3803 board of each fiscally constrained county.
3804 Section 83. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3805 made by this act to section 218.67, Florida Statutes, in a
3806 reference thereto, paragraph (f) of subsection (1) of section
3807 1011.62, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
3808 1011.62 Funds for operation of schools.—If the annual
3809 allocation from the Florida Education Finance Program to each
3810 district for operation of schools is not determined in the
3811 annual appropriations act or the substantive bill implementing
3812 the annual appropriations act, it shall be determined as
3813 follows:
3814 (1) COMPUTATION OF THE BASIC AMOUNT TO BE INCLUDED FOR
3815 OPERATION.—The following procedure shall be followed in
3816 determining the annual allocation to each district for
3817 operation:
3818 (f) Small district factor.—An additional value per full
3819 time equivalent student membership is provided to each school
3820 district with a full-time equivalent student membership of fewer
3821 than 20,000 full-time equivalent students which is in a fiscally
3822 constrained county as described in s. 218.67(1). The amount of
3823 the additional value shall be specified in the General
3824 Appropriations Act.
3825 Section 84. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3826 made by this act to sections 218.67 and 339.2818, Florida
3827 Statutes, in references thereto, paragraph (c) of subsection (6)
3828 of section 403.0741, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
3829 403.0741 Grease waste removal and disposal.—
3830 (6) REGULATION BY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.—
3831 (c) Fiscally constrained counties as described in s.
3832 218.67(1) and small counties as defined in s. 339.2818(2) may
3833 opt out of the requirements of this section.
3834 Section 85. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3835 made by this act to section 288.0656, Florida Statutes, in a
3836 reference thereto, paragraph (e) of subsection (7) of section
3837 163.3177, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
3838 163.3177 Required and optional elements of comprehensive
3839 plan; studies and surveys.—
3840 (7)
3841 (e) This subsection does not confer the status of rural
3842 area of opportunity, or any of the rights or benefits derived
3843 from such status, on any land area not otherwise designated as
3844 such pursuant to s. 288.0656(7).
3845 Section 86. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3846 made by this act to section 288.9961, Florida Statutes, in a
3847 reference thereto, paragraph (a) of subsection (7) of section
3848 288.9962, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
3849 288.9962 Broadband Opportunity Program.—
3850 (7)(a) In evaluating grant applications and awarding
3851 grants, the office must give priority to applications that:
3852 1. Offer broadband Internet service to important community
3853 institutions, including, but not limited to, libraries,
3854 educational institutions, public safety facilities, and health
3855 care facilities;
3856 2. Facilitate the use of telemedicine and electronic health
3857 records;
3858 3. Serve economically distressed areas of this state, as
3859 measured by indices of unemployment, poverty, or population loss
3860 that are significantly greater than the statewide average;
3861 4. Provide for scalability to transmission speeds of at
3862 least 100 megabits per second download and 10 megabits per
3863 second upload;
3864 5. Include a component to actively promote the adoption of
3865 the newly available broadband Internet service in the community;
3866 6. Provide evidence of strong support for the project from
3867 citizens, government, businesses, and institutions in the
3868 community;
3869 7. Provide access to broadband Internet service to the
3870 greatest number of unserved households and businesses;
3871 8. Leverage greater amounts of funding for a project from
3872 private sources; or
3873 9. Demonstrate consistency with the strategic plan adopted
3874 under s. 288.9961.
3875 Section 87. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3876 made by this act to section 319.32, Florida Statutes, in a
3877 reference thereto, subsection (1) of section 215.211, Florida
3878 Statutes, is reenacted to read:
3879 215.211 Service charge; elimination or reduction for
3880 specified proceeds.—
3881 (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 215.20(1) and
3882 former s. 215.20(3), the service charge provided in s. 215.20(1)
3883 and former s. 215.20(3), which is deducted from the proceeds of
3884 the taxes distributed under ss. 206.606(1), 207.026,
3885 212.0501(6), and 319.32(5), shall be eliminated beginning July
3886 1, 2000.
3887 Section 88. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3888 made by this act to section 339.68, Florida Statutes, in
3889 references thereto, subsections (5) and (6) of section 339.66,
3890 Florida Statutes, are reenacted to read:
3891 339.66 Upgrade of arterial highways with controlled access
3892 facilities.—
3893 (5) Any existing applicable requirements relating to
3894 department projects shall apply to projects undertaken by the
3895 department pursuant to this section. The department shall take
3896 into consideration the guidance and recommendations of any
3897 previous studies or reports relevant to the projects authorized
3898 by this section and ss. 339.67 and 339.68, including, but not
3899 limited to, the task force reports prepared pursuant to chapter
3900 2019-43, Laws of Florida.
3901 (6) Any existing applicable requirements relating to
3902 turnpike projects apply to projects undertaken by the Turnpike
3903 Enterprise pursuant to this section. The Turnpike Enterprise
3904 shall take into consideration the guidance and recommendations
3905 of any previous studies or reports relevant to the projects
3906 authorized by this section and ss. 339.67 and 339.68, including,
3907 but not limited to, the task force reports prepared pursuant to
3908 chapter 2019-43, Laws of Florida, and with respect to any
3909 extension of the Florida Turnpike from its northerly terminus in
3910 Wildwood.
3911 Section 89. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3912 made by this act to section 420.9073, Florida Statutes, in
3913 references thereto, subsections (4) and (6) of section 420.9072,
3914 Florida Statutes, are reenacted to read:
3915 420.9072 State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program.—The
3916 State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program is created for the
3917 purpose of providing funds to counties and eligible
3918 municipalities as an incentive for the creation of local housing
3919 partnerships, to expand production of and preserve affordable
3920 housing, to further the housing element of the local government
3921 comprehensive plan specific to affordable housing, and to
3922 increase housing-related employment.
3923 (4) Moneys in the Local Government Housing Trust Fund shall
3924 be distributed by the corporation to each approved county and
3925 eligible municipality within the county as provided in s.
3926 420.9073. Distributions shall be allocated to the participating
3927 county and to each eligible municipality within the county
3928 according to an interlocal agreement between the county
3929 governing authority and the governing body of the eligible
3930 municipality or, if there is no interlocal agreement, according
3931 to population. The portion for each eligible municipality is
3932 computed by multiplying the total moneys earmarked for a county
3933 by a fraction, the numerator of which is the population of the
3934 eligible municipality and the denominator of which is the total
3935 population of the county. The remaining revenues shall be
3936 distributed to the governing body of the county.
3937 (6) The moneys that otherwise would be distributed pursuant
3938 to s. 420.9073 to a local government that does not meet the
3939 program’s requirements for receipts of such distributions shall
3940 remain in the Local Government Housing Trust Fund to be
3941 administered by the corporation.
3942 Section 90. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3943 made by this act to section 420.9073, Florida Statutes, in a
3944 reference thereto, paragraph (b) of subsection (7) of section
3945 420.9076, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
3946 420.9076 Adoption of affordable housing incentive
3947 strategies; committees.—
3948 (7) The governing board of the county or the eligible
3949 municipality shall notify the corporation by certified mail of
3950 its adoption of an amendment of its local housing assistance
3951 plan to incorporate local housing incentive strategies. The
3952 notice must include a copy of the approved amended plan.
3953 (b) If a county fails to timely adopt an amended local
3954 housing assistance plan to incorporate local housing incentive
3955 strategies but an eligible municipality receiving a local
3956 housing distribution pursuant to an interlocal agreement within
3957 the county does timely adopt an amended local housing assistance
3958 plan to incorporate local housing incentive strategies, the
3959 corporation, after issuance of a notice of termination, shall
3960 thereafter distribute directly to the participating eligible
3961 municipality its share calculated in the manner provided in s.
3962 420.9073.
3963 Section 91. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3964 made by this act to section 420.9073, Florida Statutes, in a
3965 reference thereto, subsection (2) of section 420.9079, Florida
3966 Statutes, is reenacted to read:
3967 420.9079 Local Government Housing Trust Fund.—
3968 (2) The corporation shall administer the fund exclusively
3969 for the purpose of implementing the programs described in ss.
3970 420.907-420.9076 and this section. With the exception of
3971 monitoring the activities of counties and eligible
3972 municipalities to determine local compliance with program
3973 requirements, the corporation shall not receive appropriations
3974 from the fund for administrative or personnel costs. For the
3975 purpose of implementing the compliance monitoring provisions of
3976 s. 420.9075(9), the corporation may request a maximum of one
3977 quarter of 1 percent of the annual appropriation per state
3978 fiscal year. When such funding is appropriated, the corporation
3979 shall deduct the amount appropriated prior to calculating the
3980 local housing distribution pursuant to ss. 420.9072 and
3981 420.9073.
3982 Section 92. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.