CS for SB 110 First Engrossed
2025110e1
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; requiring the department to give priority
269 to counties located either wholly or partially within
270 the Everglades Agricultural Area and which request a
271 specified percentage of project costs for eligible
272 projects; specifying a limitation on such requests;
273 providing for future expiration; amending s. 339.2818,
274 F.S.; deleting a provision that the funds allocated
275 under the Small County Outreach Program are in
276 addition to the Small County Road Assistance Program;
277 deleting a provision that a local government within
278 the Everglades Agricultural Area, the Peace River
279 Basin, or the Suwannee River Basin may compete for
280 additional funding; conforming provisions to changes
281 made by the act; making a technical change; amending
282 s. 339.68, F.S.; providing legislative findings;
283 creating the Florida Arterial Road Modernization
284 Program within the Department of Commerce; defining
285 the term “rural community”; requiring the department
286 to allocate from the State Transportation Trust Fund a
287 minimum sum in each fiscal year to fund the program;
288 providing that such funding is in addition to any
289 other funding provided to the program; providing
290 criteria the department must use to prioritize
291 projects for funding under the program; requiring the
292 department to submit a report to the Governor and the
293 Legislature by a specified date; requiring that such
294 report be submitted every 2 years thereafter;
295 providing the criteria for such report; requiring the
296 Department of Transportation to allocate additional
297 funds to implement the Small County Road Assistance
298 Program and amend the tentative work program for a
299 specified number of fiscal years; requiring the
300 department to submit a budget amendment before the
301 adoption of the work program; requiring the department
302 to allocate sufficient funds to implement the Florida
303 Arterial Road Modernization Program; requiring the
304 department to amend the current tentative work program
305 for a specified number of fiscal years to include the
306 program’s projects; requiring the department to submit
307 a budget amendment before the implementation of the
308 program; requiring that the revenue increases in the
309 State Transportation Trust Fund which are derived from
310 the act be used to fund the work program; amending s.
311 381.402, F.S.; revising eligibility requirements for
312 the Florida Reimbursement Assistance for Medical
313 Education Program; revising the proof required to make
314 payments for participation in the program; creating s.
315 381.403, F.S.; providing legislative findings;
316 creating the Rural Access to Primary and Preventive
317 Care Grant Program within the Department of Health for
318 a specified purpose; defining terms; requiring the
319 department to award grants under the program to
320 physicians, physician assistants, and autonomous
321 advanced practice registered nurses intending to open
322 new practices or practice locations in qualifying
323 rural areas; specifying eligibility criteria for the
324 grants; requiring the department, by a specified date,
325 to create an application process for applying for
326 grants under the program; specifying requirements for
327 the application and application process; authorizing
328 the department, subject to specific appropriation, to
329 award grants under the program; specifying limitations
330 on the awarding of grants; specifying expenses for
331 which grant funds are authorized and prohibited;
332 requiring the department to enter into a contract with
333 each grant recipient; specifying requirements for the
334 contracts; authorizing the department to adopt rules;
335 requiring the department, beginning on a specified
336 date and annually thereafter, to provide a report
337 containing specified information to the Governor and
338 the Legislature; providing for future legislative
339 review and repeal of the program; creating s.
340 381.9856, F.S.; creating the Stroke, Cardiac, and
341 Obstetric Response and Education Grant Program within
342 the Department of Health; specifying the purpose of
343 the program; defining terms; requiring the department
344 to award grants under the program to certain entities
345 meeting specified criteria; requiring the department
346 to give priority to certain applicants; limiting
347 individual grants to a specified amount per year;
348 requiring grant recipients to submit quarterly reports
349 to the department; requiring the department to monitor
350 program implementation and outcomes; requiring the
351 department to submit an annual report to the Governor
352 and the Legislature by a specified date; authorizing
353 the department to adopt rules; providing construction;
354 providing for future legislative review and repeal of
355 the program; amending s. 395.6061, F.S.; providing
356 that rural hospital capital grant improvement program
357 funding may be awarded to rural hospitals to establish
358 mobile care units and telehealth kiosks for specified
359 purposes; defining terms; amending s. 420.9073, F.S.;
360 revising the calculation of guaranteed amounts
361 distributed from the Local Government Housing Trust
362 Fund; reenacting and amending s. 420.9075, F.S.;
363 authorizing a certain percentage of the funds made
364 available in each county and eligible municipality
365 from the local housing distribution to be used to
366 preserve multifamily affordable rental housing;
367 specifying what such funds may be used for; providing
368 an expiration; amending s. 1001.451, F.S.; revising
369 the services required to be provided by regional
370 consortium service organizations when such services
371 are found to be necessary and appropriate by such
372 organizations’ boards of directors; revising the
373 allocation that certain regional consortium service
374 organizations are eligible to receive from the General
375 Appropriations Act; requiring each regional consortium
376 service organization to submit an annual report to the
377 Department of Education; requiring that unexpended
378 amounts in certain funds be carried forward; requiring
379 each regional consortium service organization to
380 provide quarterly financial reports to member
381 districts; requiring member districts to designate a
382 district to serve as a fiscal agent for certain
383 purposes; providing for compensation of the fiscal
384 agent district; requiring regional consortium service
385 organizations to retain all funds received from grants
386 or contracted services to cover indirect or
387 administrative costs associated with the provision of
388 such services; requiring the regional consortium
389 service organization board of directors to determine
390 products and services provided by the organization;
391 requiring a regional consortium service organization
392 board of directors to recommend the establishment of
393 positions and appointments to a fiscal agent district;
394 requiring that personnel be employed under specified
395 personnel policies; authorizing the regional
396 consortium service organization board of directors to
397 recommend a salary schedule for personnel; authorizing
398 regional consortium service organizations to purchase
399 or lease property and facilities essential to their
400 operations; providing for the distribution of revenue
401 if a regional consortium service organization is
402 dissolved; deleting a provision requiring applications
403 for incentive grants; authorizing regional consortium
404 service organization boards of directors to contract
405 to provide services to nonmember districts; requiring
406 that a fund balance be established for specified
407 purposes; deleting a requirement for the use of
408 certain funds; authorizing a regional consortium
409 service organization to administer a specified
410 program; creating s. 1001.4511, F.S.; creating the
411 Regional Consortia Service Organization Supplemental
412 Services Program; providing the purpose of the
413 program; authorizing funds to be used for specified
414 purposes; requiring each regional consortium service
415 organization to report the distribution of funds
416 annually to the Legislature; providing for the
417 carryforward of funds; providing appropriations;
418 creating s. 1009.635, F.S.; establishing the Rural
419 Incentive for Professional Educators Program within
420 the Department of Education; requiring the program to
421 provide financial assistance for the repayment of
422 student loans to eligible participants who establish
423 permanent residency and employment in rural
424 communities; providing that eligible participants may
425 receive up to a certain amount in total student loan
426 repayment assistance over a certain timeframe;
427 requiring the department to verify certain information
428 of participants in the program before it disburses
429 awards; providing that the program is administered
430 through the Office of Student Financial Assistance
431 within the department; requiring the department to
432 develop procedures and monitor compliance; requiring
433 the State Board of Education to adopt rules by a
434 certain date; amending s. 1013.62, F.S.; revising the
435 calculation methodology to determine the amount of
436 revenue that a school district must distribute to each
437 eligible charter school; amending s. 1013.64, F.S.;
438 revising conditions under which a school district may
439 receive funding on an approved construction project;
440 providing appropriations for specified purposes;
441 amending ss. 163.3187, 212.205, 257.191, 257.193,
442 265.283, 288.11621, 288.11631, 443.191, 571.26, and
443 571.265, F.S.; conforming cross-references and
444 provisions to changes made by the act; reenacting s.
445 288.9935(8), F.S., relating to the Microfinance
446 Guarantee Program, to incorporate the amendment made
447 to s. 20.60, F.S., in a reference thereto; reenacting
448 ss. 125.0104(5)(c), 193.624(3), 196.182(2), 218.12(1),
449 218.125(1), 218.135(1), 218.136(1), 252.35(2)(cc),
450 288.102(4), 403.064(16)(g), 589.08(2) and (3), and
451 1011.62(1)(f), F.S., relating to authorized uses of
452 tourist development tax; applicability of assessments
453 of renewable energy source devices; application of
454 exemptions of renewable energy source devices;
455 appropriations to offset reductions in ad valorem tax
456 revenue in fiscally constrained counties; offset for
457 tax loss associated with certain constitutional
458 amendments affecting fiscally constrained counties;
459 offset for tax loss associated with reductions in
460 value of certain citrus fruit packing and processing
461 equipment; offset for ad valorem revenue loss
462 affecting fiscally constrained counties; Division of
463 Emergency Management powers; one-to-one match
464 requirement under the Supply Chain Innovation Grant
465 Program; applicability of provisions related to reuse
466 of reclaimed water; land acquisition restrictions; and
467 funds for operation of schools, respectively, to
468 incorporate the amendment made to s. 218.67, F.S., in
469 references thereto; reenacting s. 403.0741(6)(c),
470 F.S., relating to grease waste removal and disposal,
471 to incorporate the amendments made to ss. 218.67 and
472 339.2818, F.S., in references thereto; reenacting s.
473 163.3177(7)(e), F.S., relating to required and
474 optional elements of comprehensive plans and studies
475 and surveys, to incorporate the amendment made to s.
476 288.0656, F.S., in a reference thereto; reenacting s.
477 288.9962(7)(a), F.S., relating to the Broadband
478 Opportunity Program, to incorporate the amendment made
479 to s. 288.9961, F.S., in a reference thereto;
480 reenacting s. 215.211(1), F.S., relating to service
481 charges and elimination or reduction for specified
482 proceeds, to incorporate the amendment made to s.
483 319.32, F.S., in a reference thereto; reenacting s.
484 339.66(5) and (6), F.S., relating to upgrades of
485 arterial highways with controlled access facilities,
486 to incorporate the amendment made to s. 339.68, F.S.,
487 in references thereto; reenacting ss. 420.9072(4) and
488 (6), 420.9076(7)(b), and 420.9079(2), F.S., relating
489 to the State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program,
490 adoption of affordable housing incentive strategies
491 and committees, and the Local Government Housing Trust
492 Fund, respectively, to incorporate the amendment made
493 to s. 420.9073, F.S., in references thereto; providing
494 an effective date.
495
496 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
497
498 Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) and paragraph
499 (c) of subsection (10) of section 20.60, Florida Statutes, are
500 amended, and paragraph (a) of subsection (5) of that section is
501 reenacted, to read:
502 20.60 Department of Commerce; creation; powers and duties.—
503 (3)(a) The following divisions and offices of the
504 Department of Commerce are established:
505 1. The Division of Economic Development.
506 2. The Division of Community Development.
507 3. The Division of Workforce Services.
508 4. The Division of Finance and Administration.
509 5. The Division of Information Technology.
510 6. The Office of the Secretary.
511 7. The Office of Rural Prosperity.
512 8. The Office of Economic Accountability and Transparency,
513 which shall:
514 a. Oversee the department’s critical objectives as
515 determined by the secretary and make sure that the department’s
516 key objectives are clearly communicated to the public.
517 b. Organize department resources, expertise, data, and
518 research to focus on and solve the complex economic challenges
519 facing the state.
520 c. Provide leadership for the department’s priority issues
521 that require integration of policy, management, and critical
522 objectives from multiple programs and organizations internal and
523 external to the department; and organize and manage external
524 communication on such priority issues.
525 d. Promote and facilitate key department initiatives to
526 address priority economic issues and explore data and identify
527 opportunities for innovative approaches to address such economic
528 issues.
529 e. Promote strategic planning for the department.
530 (5) The divisions within the department have specific
531 responsibilities to achieve the duties, responsibilities, and
532 goals of the department. Specifically:
533 (a) The Division of Economic Development shall:
534 1. Analyze and evaluate business prospects identified by
535 the Governor and the secretary.
536 2. Administer certain tax refund, tax credit, and grant
537 programs created in law. Notwithstanding any other provision of
538 law, the department may expend interest earned from the
539 investment of program funds deposited in the Grants and
540 Donations Trust Fund to contract for the administration of those
541 programs, or portions of the programs, assigned to the
542 department by law, by the appropriations process, or by the
543 Governor. Such expenditures shall be subject to review under
544 chapter 216.
545 3. Develop measurement protocols for the state incentive
546 programs and for the contracted entities which will be used to
547 determine their performance and competitive value to the state.
548 Performance measures, benchmarks, and sanctions must be
549 developed in consultation with the legislative appropriations
550 committees and the appropriate substantive committees, and are
551 subject to the review and approval process provided in s.
552 216.177. The approved performance measures, standards, and
553 sanctions shall be included and made a part of the strategic
554 plan for contracts entered into for delivery of programs
555 authorized by this section.
556 4. Develop a 5-year statewide strategic plan. The strategic
557 plan must include, but need not be limited to:
558 a. Strategies for the promotion of business formation,
559 expansion, recruitment, and retention through aggressive
560 marketing, attraction of venture capital and finance
561 development, domestic trade, international development, and
562 export assistance, which lead to more and better jobs and higher
563 wages for all geographic regions, disadvantaged communities, and
564 populations of the state, including rural areas, minority
565 businesses, and urban core areas.
566 b. The development of realistic policies and programs to
567 further the economic diversity of the state, its regions, and
568 their associated industrial clusters.
569 c. Specific provisions for the stimulation of economic
570 development and job creation in rural areas and midsize cities
571 and counties of the state, including strategies for rural
572 marketing and the development of infrastructure in rural areas.
573 d. Provisions for the promotion of the successful long-term
574 economic development of the state with increased emphasis in
575 market research and information.
576 e. Plans for the generation of foreign investment in the
577 state which create jobs paying above-average wages and which
578 result in reverse investment in the state, including programs
579 that establish viable overseas markets, assist in meeting the
580 financing requirements of export-ready firms, broaden
581 opportunities for international joint venture relationships, use
582 the resources of academic and other institutions, coordinate
583 trade assistance and facilitation services, and facilitate
584 availability of and access to education and training programs
585 that assure requisite skills and competencies necessary to
586 compete successfully in the global marketplace.
587 f. The identification of business sectors that are of
588 current or future importance to the state’s economy and to the
589 state’s global business image, and development of specific
590 strategies to promote the development of such sectors.
591 g. Strategies for talent development necessary in the state
592 to encourage economic development growth, taking into account
593 factors such as the state’s talent supply chain, education and
594 training opportunities, and available workforce.
595 h. Strategies and plans to support this state’s defense,
596 space, and aerospace industries and the emerging complementary
597 business activities and industries that support the development
598 and growth of defense, space, and aerospace in this state.
599 5. Update the strategic plan every 5 years.
600 6. Involve CareerSource Florida, Inc.; direct-support
601 organizations of the department; local governments; the general
602 public; local and regional economic development organizations;
603 other local, state, and federal economic, international, and
604 workforce development entities; the business community; and
605 educational institutions to assist with the strategic plan.
606 7. Coordinate with the Florida Tourism Industry Marketing
607 Corporation in the development of the 4-year marketing plan
608 pursuant to s. 288.1226(13).
609 8. Administer and manage relationships, as appropriate,
610 with the entities and programs created pursuant to the Florida
611 Capital Formation Act, ss. 288.9621-288.96255.
612 (10) The department shall, by November 1 of each year,
613 submit an annual report to the Governor, the President of the
614 Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives on the
615 condition of the business climate and economic development in
616 the state.
617 (c) The report must incorporate annual reports of other
618 programs, including:
619 1. A detailed report of the performance of the Black
620 Business Loan Program and a cumulative summary of quarterly
621 report data required under s. 288.714.
622 2. The Rural Economic Development Initiative established
623 under s. 288.0656.
624 3. A detailed report of the performance of the Florida
625 Development Finance Corporation and a summary of the
626 corporation’s report required under s. 288.9610.
627 3.4. Information provided by Space Florida under s.
628 331.3051 and an analysis of the activities and accomplishments
629 of Space Florida.
630 Section 2. Subsection (5) is added to section 163.3168,
631 Florida Statutes, to read:
632 163.3168 Planning innovations and technical assistance.—
633 (5) When selecting applications for funding for technical
634 assistance, the state land planning agency shall give preference
635 to local governments located in a rural area of opportunity as
636 defined in s. 288.0656. The state land planning agency shall
637 consult with the Office of Rural Prosperity when awarding
638 funding pursuant to this section.
639 Section 3. Paragraph (i) is added to subsection (4) of
640 section 201.15, Florida Statutes, to read:
641 201.15 Distribution of taxes collected.—All taxes collected
642 under this chapter are hereby pledged and shall be first made
643 available to make payments when due on bonds issued pursuant to
644 s. 215.618 or s. 215.619, or any other bonds authorized to be
645 issued on a parity basis with such bonds. Such pledge and
646 availability for the payment of these bonds shall have priority
647 over any requirement for the costs of collection and enforcement
648 under this section. Before distribution pursuant to this
649 section, the Department of Revenue shall deduct amounts
650 necessary to pay the costs of the collection and enforcement of
651 the tax levied by this chapter. The costs may not be levied
652 against any portion of taxes pledged to debt service on bonds to
653 the extent that the costs are required to pay any amounts
654 relating to the bonds. All of the costs of the collection and
655 enforcement of the tax levied by this chapter shall be available
656 and transferred to the extent necessary to pay debt service and
657 any other amounts payable with respect to bonds authorized
658 before January 1, 2017, secured by revenues distributed pursuant
659 to this section. All taxes remaining after deduction of costs
660 shall be distributed as follows:
661 (4) After the required distributions to the Land
662 Acquisition Trust Fund pursuant to subsections (1) and (2), the
663 lesser of 8 percent of the remainder or $150 million in each
664 fiscal year shall be paid into the State Treasury to the credit
665 of the State Housing Trust Fund and shall be expended pursuant
666 to s. 420.50871. If 8 percent of the remainder is greater than
667 $150 million in any fiscal year, the difference between 8
668 percent of the remainder and $150 million shall be paid into the
669 State Treasury to the credit of the General Revenue Fund. The
670 remainder shall be distributed as follows:
671 (i) A total of $30 million shall be paid to the credit of
672 the State Transportation Trust Fund, which funds are exclusively
673 for the use of the Florida Arterial Road Modernization Program
674 as provided in s. 339.68.
675 Section 4. Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section
676 202.18, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
677 202.18 Allocation and disposition of tax proceeds.—The
678 proceeds of the communications services taxes remitted under
679 this chapter shall be treated as follows:
680 (2) The proceeds of the taxes remitted under s.
681 202.12(1)(b) shall be allocated as follows:
682 (c)1. After the distribution required under paragraph (b),
683 the remainder During each calendar year, the remaining portion
684 of the proceeds shall be transferred to the Local Government
685 Half-cent Sales Tax Clearing Trust Fund. Seventy percent of such
686 proceeds shall be and allocated in the same proportion as the
687 allocation of total receipts of the half-cent sales tax under s.
688 218.61 and the emergency distribution under s. 218.65 in the
689 prior state fiscal year. Thirty percent of such proceeds shall
690 be distributed pursuant to s. 218.67.
691 2. The proportion of the proceeds allocated based on the
692 emergency distribution under s. 218.65 shall be distributed
693 pursuant to s. 218.65.
694 3. In each calendar year, the proportion of the proceeds
695 allocated based on the half-cent sales tax under s. 218.61 shall
696 be allocated to each county in the same proportion as the
697 county’s percentage of total sales tax allocation for the prior
698 state fiscal year and distributed pursuant to s. 218.62.
699 4. The department shall distribute the appropriate amount
700 to each municipality and county each month at the same time that
701 local communications services taxes are distributed pursuant to
702 subsection (3).
703 Section 5. Paragraph (d) of subsection (6) of section
704 212.20, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
705 212.20 Funds collected, disposition; additional powers of
706 department; operational expense; refund of taxes adjudicated
707 unconstitutionally collected.—
708 (6) Distribution of all proceeds under this chapter and ss.
709 202.18(1)(b) and (2)(b) and 203.01(1)(a)3. is as follows:
710 (d) The proceeds of all other taxes and fees imposed
711 pursuant to this chapter or remitted pursuant to s. 202.18(1)(b)
712 and (2)(b) shall be distributed as follows:
713 1. In any fiscal year, the greater of $500 million, minus
714 an amount equal to 4.6 percent of the proceeds of the taxes
715 collected pursuant to chapter 201, or 5.2 percent of all other
716 taxes and fees imposed pursuant to this chapter or remitted
717 pursuant to s. 202.18(1)(b) and (2)(b) shall be deposited in
718 monthly installments into the General Revenue Fund.
719 2. After the distribution under subparagraph 1., 8.9744
720 percent of the amount remitted by a sales tax dealer located
721 within a participating county pursuant to s. 218.61 shall be
722 transferred into the Local Government Half-cent Sales Tax
723 Clearing Trust Fund. Beginning July 1, 2003, the amount to be
724 transferred shall be reduced by 0.1 percent, and the department
725 shall distribute this amount to the Public Employees Relations
726 Commission Trust Fund less $5,000 each month, which shall be
727 added to the amount calculated in subparagraph 3. and
728 distributed accordingly.
729 3. After the distribution under subparagraphs 1. and 2.,
730 0.0966 percent shall be transferred to the Local Government
731 Half-cent Sales Tax Clearing Trust Fund and distributed pursuant
732 to s. 218.65.
733 4. After the distributions under subparagraphs 1., 2., and
734 3., 2.0810 percent of the available proceeds shall be
735 transferred monthly to the Revenue Sharing Trust Fund for
736 Counties pursuant to s. 218.215.
737 5. After the distributions under subparagraphs 1., 2., and
738 3., 1.3653 percent of the available proceeds shall be
739 transferred monthly to the Revenue Sharing Trust Fund for
740 Municipalities pursuant to s. 218.215. If the total revenue to
741 be distributed pursuant to this subparagraph is at least as
742 great as the amount due from the Revenue Sharing Trust Fund for
743 Municipalities and the former Municipal Financial Assistance
744 Trust Fund in state fiscal year 1999-2000, no municipality shall
745 receive less than the amount due from the Revenue Sharing Trust
746 Fund for Municipalities and the former Municipal Financial
747 Assistance Trust Fund in state fiscal year 1999-2000. If the
748 total proceeds to be distributed are less than the amount
749 received in combination from the Revenue Sharing Trust Fund for
750 Municipalities and the former Municipal Financial Assistance
751 Trust Fund in state fiscal year 1999-2000, each municipality
752 shall receive an amount proportionate to the amount it was due
753 in state fiscal year 1999-2000.
754 6. After the distributions required under subparagraphs 1.
755 5., the greater of $50 million or 0.1438 percent of the
756 available proceeds shall be transferred in each fiscal year to
757 fiscally constrained counties pursuant to s. 218.67.
758 7. Of the remaining proceeds:
759 a. In each fiscal year, the sum of $29,915,500 shall be
760 divided into as many equal parts as there are counties in the
761 state, and one part shall be distributed to each county. The
762 distribution among the several counties must begin each fiscal
763 year on or before January 5th and continue monthly for a total
764 of 4 months. If a local or special law required that any moneys
765 accruing to a county in fiscal year 1999-2000 under the then
766 existing provisions of s. 550.135 be paid directly to the
767 district school board, special district, or a municipal
768 government, such payment must continue until the local or
769 special law is amended or repealed. The state covenants with
770 holders of bonds or other instruments of indebtedness issued by
771 local governments, special districts, or district school boards
772 before July 1, 2000, that it is not the intent of this
773 subparagraph to adversely affect the rights of those holders or
774 relieve local governments, special districts, or district school
775 boards of the duty to meet their obligations as a result of
776 previous pledges or assignments or trusts entered into which
777 obligated funds received from the distribution to county
778 governments under then-existing s. 550.135. This distribution
779 specifically is in lieu of funds distributed under s. 550.135
780 before July 1, 2000.
781 b. The department shall distribute $166,667 monthly to each
782 applicant certified as a facility for a new or retained
783 professional sports franchise pursuant to s. 288.1162. Up to
784 $41,667 shall be distributed monthly by the department to each
785 certified applicant as defined in s. 288.11621 for a facility
786 for a spring training franchise. However, not more than $416,670
787 may be distributed monthly in the aggregate to all certified
788 applicants for facilities for spring training franchises.
789 Distributions begin 60 days after such certification and
790 continue for not more than 30 years, except as otherwise
791 provided in s. 288.11621. A certified applicant identified in
792 this sub-subparagraph may not receive more in distributions than
793 expended by the applicant for the public purposes provided in s.
794 288.1162(5) or s. 288.11621(3).
795 c. The department shall distribute up to $83,333 monthly to
796 each certified applicant as defined in s. 288.11631 for a
797 facility used by a single spring training franchise, or up to
798 $166,667 monthly to each certified applicant as defined in s.
799 288.11631 for a facility used by more than one spring training
800 franchise. Monthly distributions begin 60 days after such
801 certification or July 1, 2016, whichever is later, and continue
802 for not more than 20 years to each certified applicant as
803 defined in s. 288.11631 for a facility used by a single spring
804 training franchise or not more than 25 years to each certified
805 applicant as defined in s. 288.11631 for a facility used by more
806 than one spring training franchise. A certified applicant
807 identified in this sub-subparagraph may not receive more in
808 distributions than expended by the applicant for the public
809 purposes provided in s. 288.11631(3).
810 d. The department shall distribute $15,333 monthly to the
811 State Transportation Trust Fund.
812 e.(I) On or before July 25, 2021, August 25, 2021, and
813 September 25, 2021, the department shall distribute $324,533,334
814 in each of those months to the Unemployment Compensation Trust
815 Fund, less an adjustment for refunds issued from the General
816 Revenue Fund pursuant to s. 443.131(3)(e)3. before making the
817 distribution. The adjustments made by the department to the
818 total distributions shall be equal to the total refunds made
819 pursuant to s. 443.131(3)(e)3. If the amount of refunds to be
820 subtracted from any single distribution exceeds the
821 distribution, the department may not make that distribution and
822 must subtract the remaining balance from the next distribution.
823 (II) Beginning July 2022, and on or before the 25th day of
824 each month, the department shall distribute $90 million monthly
825 to the Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund.
826 (III) If the ending balance of the Unemployment
827 Compensation Trust Fund exceeds $4,071,519,600 on the last day
828 of any month, as determined from United States Department of the
829 Treasury data, the Office of Economic and Demographic Research
830 shall certify to the department that the ending balance of the
831 trust fund exceeds such amount.
832 (IV) This sub-subparagraph is repealed, and the department
833 shall end monthly distributions under sub-sub-subparagraph (II),
834 on the date the department receives certification under sub-sub
835 subparagraph (III).
836 f. Beginning July 1, 2023, in each fiscal year, the
837 department shall distribute $27.5 million to the Florida
838 Agricultural Promotional Campaign Trust Fund under s. 571.26,
839 for further distribution in accordance with s. 571.265.
840 8.7. All other proceeds must remain in the General Revenue
841 Fund.
842 Section 6. Paragraph (h) of subsection (1) of section
843 215.971, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
844 215.971 Agreements funded with federal or state
845 assistance.—
846 (1) An agency agreement that provides state financial
847 assistance to a recipient or subrecipient, as those terms are
848 defined in s. 215.97, or that provides federal financial
849 assistance to a subrecipient, as defined by applicable United
850 States Office of Management and Budget circulars, must include
851 all of the following:
852 (h)1. If the agency agreement provides federal or state
853 financial assistance to a county or municipality that is a rural
854 community or rural area of opportunity as those terms are
855 defined in s. 288.0656(2), a provision allowing the agency to
856 provide for the payment of invoices to the county, municipality,
857 or rural area of opportunity as that term is defined in s.
858 288.0656(2), for verified and eligible performance that has been
859 completed in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth
860 in the agreement. This provision is not intended to require
861 reimbursement to the county, municipality, or rural area of
862 opportunity for invoices paid, but to allow the agency to
863 provide for the payment of invoices due. The agency shall
864 expedite such payment requests in order to facilitate the timely
865 payment of invoices received by the county, municipality, or
866 rural area of opportunity. This provision is included to
867 alleviate the financial hardships that certain rural counties
868 and municipalities encounter when administering agreements, and
869 must be exercised by the agency when a county or municipality
870 demonstrates financial hardship, to the extent that federal or
871 state law, rule, or other regulation allows such payments. This
872 paragraph may not be construed to alter or limit any other
873 provisions of federal or state law, rule, or other regulation.
874 2. By August 1, 2026, and each year thereafter, each state
875 agency shall report to the Office of Rural Prosperity
876 summarizing the implementation of this paragraph for the
877 preceding fiscal year. The Office of Rural Prosperity shall
878 summarize the information received pursuant to this paragraph in
879 its annual report as required in s. 288.013.
880 Section 7. Section 218.67, Florida Statutes, is amended to
881 read:
882 218.67 Distribution for fiscally constrained counties.—
883 (1) Each county that is entirely within a rural area of
884 opportunity as designated by the Governor pursuant to s.
885 288.0656 or each county for which the value of a mill will raise
886 no more than $10 $5 million in revenue, based on the taxable
887 value certified pursuant to s. 1011.62(4)(a)1.a., from the
888 previous July 1, shall be considered a fiscally constrained
889 county.
890 (2) Each fiscally constrained county government that
891 participates in the local government half-cent sales tax shall
892 be eligible to receive an additional distribution from the Local
893 Government Half-cent Sales Tax Clearing Trust Fund, as provided
894 in s. 212.20(6)(d)6. s. 202.18(2)(c)1., in addition to its
895 regular monthly distribution provided under this part and any
896 emergency or supplemental distribution under s. 218.65.
897 (3) The amount to be distributed to each fiscally
898 constrained county shall be determined by the Department of
899 Revenue at the beginning of the fiscal year, using the prior
900 fiscal year’s sales and use tax collections from the most recent
901 fiscal year that reports 12 months of collections July 1 taxable
902 value certified pursuant to s. 1011.62(4)(a)1.a., tax data,
903 population as defined in s. 218.21, and the most current
904 calendar year per capita personal income published by the Bureau
905 of Economic Analysis of the United States Department of Commerce
906 millage rate levied for the prior fiscal year. The amount
907 distributed shall be allocated based upon the following factors:
908 (a) The contribution-to-revenue relative revenue-raising
909 capacity factor for each participating county shall equal 100
910 multiplied by a quotient, the numerator of which is the county’s
911 population and the denominator of which is the state sales and
912 use tax collections attributable to the county be the ability of
913 the eligible county to generate ad valorem revenues from 1 mill
914 of taxation on a per capita basis. A county that raises no more
915 than $25 per capita from 1 mill shall be assigned a value of 1;
916 a county that raises more than $25 but no more than $30 per
917 capita from 1 mill shall be assigned a value of 0.75; and a
918 county that raises more than $30 but no more than $50 per capita
919 from 1 mill shall be assigned a value of 0.5. No value shall be
920 assigned to counties that raise more than $50 per capita from 1
921 mill of ad valorem taxation.
922 (b) The personal-income local-effort factor shall equal a
923 quotient, the numerator of which is the median per capita
924 personal income of participating counties and the denominator of
925 which is the county’s per capita personal income be a measure of
926 the relative level of local effort of the eligible county as
927 indicated by the millage rate levied for the prior fiscal year.
928 The local-effort factor shall be the most recently adopted
929 countywide operating millage rate for each eligible county
930 multiplied by 0.1.
931 (c) Each eligible county’s proportional allocation of the
932 total amount available to be distributed to all of the eligible
933 counties shall be in the same proportion as the sum of the
934 county’s two factors is to the sum of the two factors for all
935 eligible counties. The proportional rate computation must be
936 carried to the fifth decimal place, and the amount to distribute
937 to each county must be rounded to the next whole dollar amount.
938 The counties that are eligible to receive an allocation under
939 this subsection and the amount available to be distributed to
940 such counties do shall not include counties participating in the
941 phaseout period under subsection (4) or the amounts they remain
942 eligible to receive during the phaseout.
943 (4) For those counties that no longer qualify under the
944 requirements of subsection (1) after the effective date of this
945 act, there shall be a 2-year phaseout period. Beginning on July
946 1 of the year following the year in which the value of a mill
947 for that county exceeds $10 $5 million in revenue, the county
948 shall receive two-thirds of the amount received in the prior
949 year, and beginning on July 1 of the second year following the
950 year in which the value of a mill for that county exceeds $10 $5
951 million in revenue, the county shall receive one-third of the
952 amount received in the last year that the county qualified as a
953 fiscally constrained county. Following the 2-year phaseout
954 period, the county is shall no longer be eligible to receive any
955 distributions under this section unless the county can be
956 considered a fiscally constrained county as provided in
957 subsection (1).
958 (5)(a) The revenues received under this section must be
959 allocated may be used by a county to be used for the following
960 purposes:
961 1. Fifty percent for public safety, including salary
962 expenditures for law enforcement officers or correctional
963 officers, as those terms are defined in s. 943.10(1) and (2),
964 respectively, firefighters as defined in s. 633.102, or
965 emergency medical technicians or paramedics as those terms are
966 defined in s. 401.23.
967 2. Thirty percent for infrastructure needs.
968 3. Twenty percent for any public purpose.
969 (b) The revenues received under this section any public
970 purpose, except that such revenues may not be used to pay debt
971 service on bonds, notes, certificates of participation, or any
972 other forms of indebtedness.
973 Section 8. Subsection (6) is added to section 288.0001,
974 Florida Statutes, to read:
975 288.0001 Economic Development Programs Evaluation.—The
976 Office of Economic and Demographic Research and the Office of
977 Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA)
978 shall develop and present to the Governor, the President of the
979 Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the
980 chairs of the legislative appropriations committees the Economic
981 Development Programs Evaluation.
982 (6)(a) The Office of Economic and Demographic Research and
983 OPPAGA shall prepare a report on the impact of the Florida
984 Statutes on rural communities. Specifically, the report must
985 include the following:
986 1. A review of definitions in the Florida Statutes of terms
987 such as “rural community,” “rural area of opportunity,” and
988 other similar terms used to define rural areas of this state,
989 including population-based references, to assess the adequacy of
990 the current statutory framework in defining these areas. The
991 analysis must include, but need not be limited to:
992 a. Evaluation of whether current provisions properly
993 distinguish these communities or areas from more urban and
994 suburban parts of this state;
995 b. Consideration of updates to the definitions and
996 references to classify additional rural areas, such as growing
997 communities, unincorporated areas, or rural communities by
998 design; and
999 c. Study of appropriate metrics to be used to describe
1000 rural communities or areas, such as population, geographic,
1001 demographic, or other metrics, or combinations thereof.
1002 2. A survey of local governments meeting the statutory
1003 definition of “rural community” or “rural area of opportunity”
1004 to assess the benefits to the local government of being
1005 identified as such and any perceived unmet needs in the
1006 implementation of current statutory provisions designed to
1007 support rural communities or areas.
1008 3. An analysis of state grant programs and recurring
1009 appropriations that explicitly benefit rural communities or
1010 areas, including, but not limited to, program purpose, funding
1011 amounts, participation rates, and consistency with peer-reviewed
1012 studies on effective economic programs for these areas.
1013 (b) Upon request, the Office of Economic and Demographic
1014 Research and OPPAGA must be provided with all data necessary to
1015 complete the report, including any confidential data, by any
1016 entity with information related to this review. The offices may
1017 collaborate on all data collection and analysis.
1018 (c) The Office of Economic and Demographic Research and
1019 OPPAGA shall submit a report to the President of the Senate and
1020 the Speaker of the House of Representatives by December 31,
1021 2025. The report must provide recommendations to address any
1022 findings, including any changes in statutory definitions or
1023 references to rural communities or areas, opportunities to
1024 enhance state support to rural communities or areas, outcome
1025 measures or other criteria that may be used to examine the
1026 effectiveness of state grant programs for rural communities or
1027 areas, and adjustments to program design, including changes to
1028 increase participation in state grant programs for rural
1029 communities or areas.
1030 (d) This subsection expires July 1, 2026.
1031 Section 9. Present paragraphs (d) and (e) of subsection (7)
1032 of section 288.001, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as
1033 paragraphs (e) and (f), respectively, and a new paragraph (d) is
1034 added to that subsection, to read:
1035 288.001 The Florida Small Business Development Center
1036 Network.—
1037 (7) ADDITIONAL STATE FUNDS; USES; PAY-PER-PERFORMANCE
1038 INCENTIVES; STATEWIDE SERVICE; SERVICE ENHANCEMENTS; BEST
1039 PRACTICES; ELIGIBILITY.—
1040 (d) Notwithstanding paragraphs (a), (b), and (c), the
1041 network shall use funds directly appropriated for the specific
1042 purpose of expanding service in rural communities, as defined in
1043 s. 288.0656, in addition to any funds allocated by the network
1044 from other sources. The network shall use the funds to develop
1045 an activity plan focused on network consultants and resources in
1046 rural communities. In collaboration with regional economic
1047 development organizations as defined in s. 288.018, the plan
1048 must provide for either full- or part-time consultants to be
1049 available for at least 20 hours per week in rural areas or be
1050 permanently stationed in rural areas. This may include
1051 establishing a circuit in specific rural locations to ensure the
1052 consultants’ availability on a regular basis. By using the funds
1053 to create a regular presence in rural areas, the network can
1054 strengthen community collaboration, raise awareness of available
1055 resources to provide opportunities for new business development
1056 or existing business growth, and make professional experience,
1057 education, and business information available in these essential
1058 communities. The network may dedicate funds to facilitate local
1059 or regional events that focus on small business topics, provide
1060 consulting services, and leverage partner organizations, such as
1061 the regional economic development organizations, local workforce
1062 development boards as described in s. 445.07, and Florida
1063 College System institutions.
1064 Section 10. Section 288.007, Florida Statutes, is amended
1065 to read:
1066 288.007 Inventory of communities seeking to recruit
1067 businesses.—By September 30 of each year, a county or
1068 municipality that has a population of at least 25,000 or its
1069 local economic development organization, and each local
1070 government within a rural area of opportunity as defined in s.
1071 288.0656 or its local economic development organization, shall
1072 must submit to the department a brief overview of the strengths,
1073 services, and economic development incentives that its community
1074 offers. The local government or its local economic development
1075 organization also shall must identify any industries that it is
1076 encouraging to locate or relocate to its area. Unless otherwise
1077 required pursuant to this section, a county or municipality
1078 having a population of 25,000 or less fewer or its local
1079 economic development organization seeking to recruit businesses
1080 may submit information as required in this section and may
1081 participate in any activity or initiative resulting from the
1082 collection, analysis, and reporting of the information to the
1083 department pursuant to this section.
1084 Section 11. Section 288.013, Florida Statutes, is created
1085 to read:
1086 288.013 Office of Rural Prosperity.—
1087 (1) The Legislature finds that the unique characteristics
1088 and nature of the rural communities in this state are integral
1089 to making this state an attractive place to visit, work, and
1090 live. Further, the Legislature finds that building a prosperous
1091 rural economy and vibrant rural communities is in the best
1092 interest of this state. Rural prosperity is integral to
1093 supporting this state’s infrastructure, housing, and
1094 agricultural and food-processing needs, as well as promoting the
1095 health and advancement of the overall economy of this state. It
1096 is of importance to the state that its rural areas are able to
1097 grow, whether locally or in regional partnerships. To better
1098 serve rural communities, and in recognition of rural Florida’s
1099 unique challenges and opportunities, the Office of Rural
1100 Prosperity is established to ensure these efforts are
1101 coordinated, focused, and effective.
1102 (2) The Office of Rural Prosperity is created within the
1103 Department of Commerce for the purpose of supporting rural
1104 communities by helping rural stakeholders navigate available
1105 programs and resources and representing rural interests across
1106 state government.
1107 (3) The Governor shall appoint a director to lead the
1108 office, subject to confirmation by the Senate. The director
1109 shall report to the secretary of the department and shall serve
1110 at the pleasure of the secretary.
1111 (4) The office shall do all of the following:
1112 (a) Serve as the state’s point of contact for rural local
1113 governments.
1114 (b) Administer the Rural Economic Development Initiative
1115 (REDI) pursuant to s. 288.0656.
1116 (c) Provide training and technical assistance to rural
1117 local governments on a broad range of community and economic
1118 development activities. The training and technical assistance
1119 may be offered using communications technology or in person and
1120 must be recorded and posted to the office’s website. The
1121 training and technical assistance must include, at a minimum,
1122 the following topics:
1123 1. How to access state and federal resources, including
1124 training on the online rural resource directory required under
1125 paragraph (d).
1126 2. Best practices relating to comprehensive planning,
1127 economic development, and land development in rural communities.
1128 3. Strategies to address management and administrative
1129 capacity challenges unique to rural local governments.
1130 4. Requirements of, and updates on recent changes to, the
1131 Community Planning Act under s. 163.3161.
1132 5. Updates on other recent state and federal laws affecting
1133 rural local governments.
1134 (d) Create and maintain an online rural resource directory
1135 to serve as an interactive tool to navigate the various state
1136 and federal resources, tools, and services available to rural
1137 local governments. The office shall regularly maintain the
1138 resource directory and, to the greatest extent possible, include
1139 up-to-date information on state and federal programs, resources,
1140 tools, and services that address the needs of rural communities
1141 in all areas of governance. Each state agency shall routinely
1142 provide information and updates to the office for maintenance of
1143 the resource directory. The resource directory must allow users
1144 to search by indicators, such as agency name, resource type, or
1145 topic, and include a notification function to allow users to
1146 receive alerts when new or modified resources are available. To
1147 the greatest extent possible, the resource directory must
1148 include information on financial match requirements for the
1149 state and federal programs listed in the directory.
1150 (5)(a) By October 1, 2025, the office shall establish and
1151 staff seven regional rural community liaison centers across this
1152 state for the purpose of providing specialized in-person state
1153 support to local governments in rural areas of opportunity as
1154 defined in s. 288.0656. The department shall by rule divide this
1155 state into seven regions and assign a regional rural community
1156 liaison center to each region. Each liaison center shall support
1157 the local governments within its geographic territory and shall
1158 be staffed with at least two full-time department personnel. At
1159 a minimum, liaison centers shall have the following powers,
1160 duties, and functions:
1161 1. Work with local governments to plan and achieve goals
1162 for local or regional growth, economic development, and rural
1163 prosperity.
1164 2. Facilitate local government access to state and federal
1165 resources, such as grants, loans, and other aid or resources.
1166 3. Advise local governments on available waivers of program
1167 requirements, including financial match waivers or reductions,
1168 for projects using state or federal funds through the Rural
1169 Economic Development Initiative under s. 288.0656.
1170 4. Coordinate local government technical assistance needs
1171 with the department and other state or federal agencies.
1172 5. Promote model ordinances, policies, and strategies
1173 related to economic development.
1174 6. Assist local governments with regulatory and reporting
1175 compliance.
1176 (b) To the greatest extent possible, the regional rural
1177 community liaison centers shall coordinate with local and
1178 regional governmental entities, regional economic development
1179 organizations as defined in s. 288.018, and other appropriate
1180 entities to establish a network to foster community-driven
1181 solutions that promote viable and sustainable rural communities.
1182 (c) The regional rural community liaison centers shall
1183 regularly engage with the Rural Economic Development Initiative
1184 established in s. 288.0656, and at least one staff member from
1185 each liaison center shall attend, either in person or by means
1186 of electronic communication, the monthly meetings required by s.
1187 288.0656(6)(c).
1188 (6) By December 1, 2025, and each year thereafter, the
1189 director of the office shall submit to the Administration
1190 Commission in the Executive Office of the Governor a written
1191 report describing the office’s operations and accomplishments
1192 for the preceding year, inclusive of the Rural Economic
1193 Development Initiative report required by s. 288.0656(8). In
1194 consultation with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer
1195 Services, the office shall also include in the annual report
1196 recommendations for policies, programs, and funding to further
1197 support the needs of rural communities in this state. The office
1198 shall submit the annual report to the President of the Senate
1199 and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by December 1 of
1200 each year and publish the annual report on the office’s website.
1201 The director shall present, in person at the next scheduled
1202 Administration Commission meeting, detailed information from the
1203 annual report required by this subsection.
1204 (7)(a) The Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government
1205 Accountability (OPPAGA) shall review the effectiveness of the
1206 office by December 15, 2026, and each year thereafter until
1207 2028. Beginning in 2029, OPPAGA shall review and evaluate the
1208 office every 3 years and shall submit a report based on its
1209 findings. Each report must recommend policy and statutory
1210 modifications for consideration by the Legislature. OPPAGA shall
1211 submit each report to the President of the Senate and the
1212 Speaker of the House of Representatives pursuant to the
1213 schedule.
1214 (b) OPPAGA shall review strategies implemented by other
1215 states on rural community preservation, enhancement, and
1216 revitalization and report on their effectiveness and potential
1217 for implementation in this state. OPPAGA shall include its
1218 findings in its report to the President of the Senate and the
1219 Speaker of the House of Representatives by December 15, 2027,
1220 and every 3 years thereafter.
1221 (c)1. OPPAGA shall review each state-funded or state
1222 administered grant and loan program available to local
1223 governments to:
1224 a. Identify any specified local government financial match
1225 requirements and whether any portion of a match may be waived or
1226 is required to be waived, pursuant to law, and programs where a
1227 financial match waiver may be appropriate for rural local
1228 government applicants, if not contemplated by law.
1229 b. Identify grant and loan application evaluation criteria,
1230 including scoring procedures, for programs that may be perceived
1231 to be overly burdensome for rural local government applicants,
1232 and whether special accommodations or preferences for rural
1233 local governments may be appropriate.
1234 2. OPPAGA shall produce a report based on its review and
1235 submit the report to the President of the Senate and the Speaker
1236 of the House of Representatives by December 15, 2026.
1237 3. This paragraph expires June 30, 2027.
1238 Section 12. Section 288.014, Florida Statutes, is created
1239 to read:
1240 288.014 Renaissance Grants Program.—
1241 (1) The Legislature finds that it has traditionally
1242 provided programs to assist rural communities with economic
1243 development and enhance their ability to attract businesses and
1244 that, by providing that extra component of economic viability,
1245 rural communities are able to attract new businesses and grow
1246 existing ones. However, the Legislature finds that a subset of
1247 rural communities has decreased in population over the past
1248 decade, contributing to a decline in local business activity and
1249 economic development. The Legislature further finds that the
1250 state must transform its assistance to these specific rural
1251 communities to help them achieve a necessary precursor of
1252 economic viability. The Legislature further finds that the
1253 approach intended by the creation of renaissance grants is to
1254 focus on reversing the economic deterioration in rural
1255 communities by retaining and attracting residents by giving them
1256 a reason to stay, which is the impetus of natural economic
1257 growth, business opportunities, and increased quality of life.
1258 (2) The Office of Rural Prosperity within the department
1259 shall administer the Renaissance Grants Program to provide block
1260 grants to eligible counties. By October 1, 2025, the Office of
1261 Economic and Demographic Research shall certify to the Office of
1262 Rural Prosperity which counties are growth-impeded. For the
1263 purposes of this section, “growth-impeded” means a county that,
1264 as of the most recent population estimate, has had a declining
1265 population over the last 10 years. After an initial
1266 certification, the Office of Economic and Demographic Research
1267 shall annually certify whether the county remains growth
1268 impeded, until the county has 3 consecutive years of population
1269 growth. Upon such certification of population growth, the county
1270 is eligible to participate in the program for 1 additional year
1271 in order for the county to prepare for the end of block grant
1272 funding.
1273 (3)(a) Each participating county shall enter into an
1274 agreement with the Office of Rural Prosperity to receive the
1275 block grant. Each county has broad authority to design its
1276 specific plan to achieve population growth within the broad
1277 parameters identified in this section. The Office of Rural
1278 Prosperity may not determine the manner in which the county
1279 implements the block grant. However, regional rural community
1280 liaison center staff shall provide assistance in developing the
1281 county’s plan, upon request.
1282 (b) Each participating county shall report annually to the
1283 Office of Rural Prosperity on activities undertaken,
1284 intergovernmental agreements entered into, and other information
1285 as required by the office.
1286 (c) Each participating county shall receive $1 million from
1287 the funds appropriated to the program. Counties participating in
1288 the program shall make all attempts to limit expenses for
1289 administrative costs, consistent with the need for prudent
1290 management and accountability in the use of public funds. Each
1291 county may contribute other funds for block grant purposes,
1292 including local, state, or federal grant funds, or seek out in
1293 kind or financial contributions from private or public sources
1294 to assist in fulfilling the activities undertaken.
1295 (4)(a) A participating county shall hire and retain a
1296 renaissance coordinator and may use block grant funds for this
1297 purpose. The renaissance coordinator is responsible for:
1298 1. Ensuring that block grant funds are used as provided in
1299 this section;
1300 2. Coordinating with other local governments, school
1301 boards, Florida College System institutions, or other entities;
1302 and
1303 3. Reporting as necessary to the state, including
1304 information necessary pursuant to subsection (7).
1305 (b) The Office of Rural Prosperity regional rural community
1306 liaison center staff shall provide assistance, upon request, and
1307 training to the renaissance coordinator to ensure successful
1308 implementation of the block grant.
1309 (5) A participating county shall design a plan to make
1310 targeted investments in the community to achieve population
1311 growth and increase the economic vitality of the community. The
1312 plan must include the following key features for use of the
1313 state support:
1314 (a) Technology centers with extended hours located within
1315 schools or on school premises, administered by the local school
1316 board, for such schools which provide extended hours and support
1317 for access by students.
1318 (b) Facilities that colocate adult day care with child care
1319 facilities. The site-sharing facilities must be managed to also
1320 provide opportunities for direct interaction between generations
1321 and increase the health and well-being of both younger and older
1322 participants, reduce social isolation, and create cost and time
1323 efficiencies for working family members. The regional rural
1324 community liaison center staff of the Office of Rural Prosperity
1325 shall assist the county, upon request, with bringing to the
1326 Rural Economic Development Initiative or directly to the
1327 appropriate state agency recommendations necessary to streamline
1328 any required state permits, licenses, regulations, or other
1329 requirements.
1330 (c) Technology labs managed in agreement with the nearest
1331 Florida College System institution or a career center as
1332 established under s. 1001.44. Repurposing vacant industrial
1333 sites or existing office space must be given priority in the
1334 selection of lab locations. Each local technology lab must be
1335 staffed and open for extended hours with the capacity to
1336 provide:
1337 1. Access to trainers and equipment necessary for users to
1338 earn various certificates or online degrees in technology;
1339 2. Hands-on assistance with applying for appropriate remote
1340 work opportunities; and
1341 3. Studio space with equipment for graduates and other
1342 qualifying residents to perform remote work that is based on the
1343 use of technology. Collaboration with community partners,
1344 including the local workforce development board as described in
1345 s. 445.007, to provide training opportunities, in-kind support
1346 such as transportation to and from the lab, financing of
1347 equipment for in-home use, or basic maintenance of such
1348 equipment is required.
1349 (6) In addition to the hiring of a renaissance coordinator,
1350 a participating county shall develop intergovernmental
1351 agreements for shared responsibilities with its municipalities,
1352 school board, and Florida College System institution or career
1353 center and enter into necessary contracts with providers and
1354 community partners in order to implement the plan.
1355 (7)(a) Every 2 years, the Auditor General shall conduct an
1356 operational audit as defined in s. 11.45 of each county’s grant
1357 activities, beginning in 2026.
1358 (b) On December 31, 2026, and every year thereafter, the
1359 Office of Economic and Demographic Research shall submit an
1360 annual report of renaissance block grant recipients by county to
1361 the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
1362 Representatives. The report must provide key economic indicators
1363 that measure progress in altering longer-term trends in the
1364 county. The Office of Rural Prosperity shall provide the Office
1365 of Economic and Demographic Research with information as
1366 requested to complete the report.
1367 (8) Notwithstanding s. 216.301, funds appropriated for the
1368 purposes of this section are not subject to reversion.
1369 (9) This section expires June 30, 2040.
1370 Section 13. Section 288.0175, Florida Statutes, is created
1371 to read:
1372 288.0175 Public Infrastructure Smart Technology Grant
1373 Program.—
1374 (1) The Public Infrastructure Smart Technology Grant
1375 Program is established within the Office of Rural Prosperity
1376 within the department to fund and support the development of
1377 public infrastructure smart technology projects in communities
1378 located in rural areas of opportunity, subject to legislative
1379 appropriation.
1380 (2) As used in this section, the term:
1381 (a) “Public infrastructure smart technology” means systems
1382 and applications that use connectivity, data analytics, and
1383 automation to improve public infrastructure by increasing
1384 efficiency, enhancing public services, and promoting sustainable
1385 development.
1386 (b) “Rural area of opportunity” has the same meaning as in
1387 s. 288.0656.
1388 (c) “Smart technology lead organization” means a not-for
1389 profit corporation organized under s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal
1390 Revenue Code which has been in existence for at least 3 years
1391 and specializes in smart region planning.
1392 (3)(a) The Office of Rural Prosperity shall contract with
1393 one or more smart technology lead organizations to administer
1394 the grant program for the purpose of deploying public
1395 infrastructure smart technology in rural communities. In
1396 accordance with the terms required by the office, the smart
1397 technology lead organization shall provide grants to counties
1398 and municipalities located within a rural area of opportunity
1399 for public infrastructure smart technology projects.
1400 (b) The office’s contract with a smart technology lead
1401 organization must specify the contract deliverables, including
1402 financial reports and other reports due the office, timeframes
1403 for achieving contractual obligations, and any other
1404 requirements the office determines are necessary. The contract
1405 must require the smart technology lead organization to do the
1406 following:
1407 1. Collaborate with counties and municipalities located in
1408 rural areas of opportunity to identify opportunities for local
1409 governments to institute cost-effective smart technology
1410 solutions for improving public services and infrastructure.
1411 2. Provide technical assistance to counties and
1412 municipalities located in rural areas of opportunity in
1413 developing plans for public infrastructure smart technology
1414 projects.
1415 3. Assist counties and municipalities located in rural
1416 areas of opportunity in connecting with other communities,
1417 companies, and other entities to leverage the impact of each
1418 public infrastructure smart technology project.
1419 (4) The office shall include in its annual report required
1420 by s. 288.013(6) a description of the projects funded under this
1421 section.
1422 Section 14. Subsections (1), (2), and (4) of section
1423 288.018, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
1424 288.018 Regional Rural Development Grants Program.—
1425 (1)(a) For the purposes of this section, the term “regional
1426 economic development organization” means an economic development
1427 organization located in or contracted to serve a rural area of
1428 opportunity, as defined in s. 288.0656 s. 288.0656(2)(d).
1429 (b) Subject to appropriation, the Office of Rural
1430 Prosperity department shall establish a grant program to provide
1431 funding to regional economic development organizations for the
1432 purpose of building the professional capacity of those
1433 organizations. Building the professional capacity of a regional
1434 economic development organization includes hiring professional
1435 staff to develop, deliver, and provide needed economic
1436 development professional services, including technical
1437 assistance, education and leadership development, marketing, and
1438 project recruitment. Grants may also be used by a regional
1439 economic development organization to provide technical
1440 assistance to local governments, local economic development
1441 organizations, and existing and prospective businesses.
1442 (c) A regional economic development organization may apply
1443 annually to the office department for a grant. The office
1444 department is authorized to approve, on an annual basis, grants
1445 to such regional economic development organizations. The office
1446 may award a maximum amount of $50,000 in a year to maximum
1447 amount an organization may receive in any year will be $50,000,
1448 or $250,000 each to for any three regional economic development
1449 organizations that serve an entire region of a rural area of
1450 opportunity designated pursuant to s. 288.0656(7) if they are
1451 recognized by the office department as serving such a region.
1452 (2) In approving the participants, the office department
1453 shall require the following:
1454 (a) Documentation of official commitments of support from
1455 each of the units of local government represented by the
1456 regional organization.
1457 (b) Demonstration that the organization is in existence and
1458 actively involved in economic development activities serving the
1459 region.
1460 (c) Demonstration of the manner in which the organization
1461 is or will coordinate its efforts with those of other local and
1462 state organizations.
1463 (4) Except as otherwise provided in the General
1464 Appropriations Act, the office department may expend up to
1465 $750,000 each fiscal year from funds appropriated to the Rural
1466 Community Development Revolving Loan Fund for the purposes
1467 outlined in this section.
1468 Section 15. Section 288.019, Florida Statutes, is amended
1469 to read:
1470 288.019 Rural considerations in grant review and evaluation
1471 processes; financial match waiver or reduction.—
1472 (1) Notwithstanding any other law, and to the fullest
1473 extent possible, each agency and organization the member
1474 agencies and organizations of the Rural Economic Development
1475 Initiative (REDI) as defined in s. 288.0656 s. 288.0656(6)(a)
1476 shall review:
1477 (a) All grant and loan application evaluation criteria and
1478 scoring procedures to ensure the fullest access for rural
1479 communities counties as defined in s. 288.0656 s. 288.0656(2) to
1480 resources available throughout the state; and
1481 (b) The financial match requirements for projects in rural
1482 communities.
1483 (2)(1) Each REDI agency and organization shall consider the
1484 impact on and ability of rural communities to meet and be
1485 competitive under such criteria, scoring, and requirements. Upon
1486 review, each REDI agency and organization shall review all
1487 evaluation and scoring procedures and develop a proposal for
1488 modifications to those procedures which minimize the financial
1489 and resource impact to a rural community, including waiver or
1490 reduction of any required financial match requirements impact of
1491 a project within a rural area.
1492 (a)(2) Evaluation criteria and scoring procedures must
1493 provide for an appropriate ranking, when ranking is a component
1494 of the program, based on the proportionate impact that projects
1495 have on a rural area when compared with similar project impacts
1496 on an urban area. Additionally,
1497 (3) evaluation criteria and scoring procedures must
1498 recognize the disparity of available fiscal resources for an
1499 equal level of financial support from an urban county or
1500 municipality and a rural county or municipality.
1501 (a) The evaluation criteria should weight contribution in
1502 proportion to the amount of funding available at the local
1503 level.
1504 (b) Match requirements must be waived or reduced for rural
1505 communities. When appropriate, an in-kind match must should be
1506 allowed and applied as a financial match when a rural community
1507 county is experiencing economic financial distress as defined in
1508 s. 288.0656 through elevated unemployment at a rate in excess of
1509 the state’s average by 5 percentage points or because of the
1510 loss of its ad valorem base. Donations of land, though usually
1511 not recognized as an in-kind match, may be treated as such. As
1512 appropriate, each agency and organization that applies for or
1513 receives federal funding must request federal approval to waive
1514 or reduce the financial match requirements, if any, for projects
1515 in rural communities.
1516 (3)(4) For existing programs, The proposal modified
1517 evaluation criteria and scoring procedure must be submitted
1518 delivered to the Office of Rural Prosperity department for
1519 distribution to the REDI agencies and organizations. The REDI
1520 agencies and organizations shall review and make comments and
1521 recommendations that. Future rules, programs, evaluation
1522 criteria, and scoring processes must be brought before a REDI
1523 meeting for review, discussion, and recommendation to allow
1524 rural communities counties fuller access to the state’s
1525 resources.
1526 (4) Each REDI agency and organization shall ensure that
1527 related administrative rules or policies are modified, as
1528 necessary, to reflect the finalized proposal and that
1529 information about the authorized wavier or reduction is included
1530 in the online rural resource directory of the Office of Rural
1531 Prosperity required in s. 288.013(4)(d).
1532 (5) The rural liaison from the related regional district
1533 shall assist the rural community to make requests of waiver or
1534 reduction of match.
1535 Section 16. Subsection (3) is added to section 288.021,
1536 Florida Statutes, to read:
1537 288.021 Economic development liaison.—
1538 (3) When practicable, the staff member appointed as the
1539 economic development liaison shall also serve as the agency
1540 representative for the Rural Economic Development Initiative
1541 pursuant to s. 288.0656.
1542 Section 17. Section 288.065, Florida Statutes, is amended
1543 to read:
1544 288.065 Rural Community Development Revolving Loan Fund.—
1545 (1) The Rural Community Development Revolving Loan Fund
1546 Program is established within the Office of Rural Prosperity
1547 department to facilitate the use of existing federal, state, and
1548 local financial resources by providing local governments with
1549 financial assistance to further promote the economic viability
1550 of rural communities. These funds may be used to finance
1551 initiatives directed toward maintaining or developing the
1552 economic base of rural communities, especially initiatives
1553 addressing employment opportunities for residents of these
1554 communities.
1555 (2)(a) The program shall provide for long-term loans, loan
1556 guarantees, and loan loss reserves to units of local
1557 governments, or economic development organizations substantially
1558 underwritten by a unit of local government.,
1559 (b) For purposes of this section, the term “unit of local
1560 government” means:
1561 1. A county within counties with a population populations
1562 of 75,000 or less. fewer, or within any
1563 2. A county with a population of 125,000 or less fewer
1564 which is contiguous to a county with a population of 75,000 or
1565 less. fewer
1566 3. A municipality within a county described in subparagraph
1567 1. or subparagraph 2.
1568 4. A county or municipality within a rural area of
1569 opportunity.
1570
1571 For purposes of this paragraph, population is determined in
1572 accordance with the most recent official estimates pursuant to
1573 s. 186.901 and must include those residing in incorporated and
1574 unincorporated areas of a county, based on the most recent
1575 official population estimate as determined under s. 186.901,
1576 including those residing in incorporated areas and those
1577 residing in unincorporated areas of the county, or to units of
1578 local government, or economic development organizations
1579 substantially underwritten by a unit of local government, within
1580 a rural area of opportunity.
1581 (c)(b) Requests for loans must shall be made by application
1582 to the office department. Loans must shall be made pursuant to
1583 agreements specifying the terms and conditions agreed to between
1584 the applicant and the office department. The loans are shall be
1585 the legal obligations of the applicant.
1586 (d)(c) All repayments of principal and interest shall be
1587 returned to the loan fund and made available for loans to other
1588 applicants. However, in a rural area of opportunity designated
1589 under s. 288.0656 by the Governor, and upon approval by the
1590 office department, repayments of principal and interest may be
1591 retained by the applicant if such repayments are dedicated and
1592 matched to fund regionally based economic development
1593 organizations representing the rural area of opportunity.
1594 (3) The office department shall manage the fund,
1595 establishing loan practices that must include, but are not
1596 limited to, procedures for establishing loan interest rates,
1597 uses of funding, application procedures, and application review
1598 procedures. The office has department shall have final approval
1599 authority for any loan under this section.
1600 (4) Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 216.301, funds
1601 appropriated for this loan fund may purpose shall not be subject
1602 to reversion.
1603 (5) The office shall include in its annual report required
1604 under s. 288.013 detailed information about the fund, including
1605 loans made during the previous fiscal year, loans active, loans
1606 terminated or repaid, and the amount of funds not obligated as
1607 of 14 days before the date the report is due.
1608 Section 18. Subsections (1), (2), and (3) of section
1609 288.0655, Florida Statutes, are amended, and subsection (6) is
1610 added to that section, to read:
1611 288.0655 Rural Infrastructure Fund.—
1612 (1) There is created within the Office of Rural Prosperity
1613 department the Rural Infrastructure Fund to facilitate the
1614 planning, preparing, and financing of infrastructure projects in
1615 rural communities which will encourage job creation, capital
1616 investment, and the strengthening and diversification of rural
1617 economies by promoting tourism, trade, and economic development.
1618 Grants under this program may be awarded to a unit of local
1619 government within a rural community or rural area of opportunity
1620 as defined in s. 288.0656; or to a regional economic development
1621 organization, a unit of local government, or an economic
1622 development organization substantially underwritten by a unit of
1623 local government for an infrastructure project located within an
1624 unincorporated area that has a population of 15,000 or less, has
1625 been in existence for 100 year or more, is contiguous to a rural
1626 community, and has been adversely affected by a natural disaster
1627 or presents a unique economic development opportunity of
1628 regional impact.
1629 (2)(a) Funds appropriated by the Legislature shall be
1630 distributed by the office department through grant programs that
1631 maximize the use of federal, local, and private resources,
1632 including, but not limited to, those available under the Small
1633 Cities Community Development Block Grant Program.
1634 (b) To facilitate access of rural communities and rural
1635 areas of opportunity as defined by the Rural Economic
1636 Development Initiative to infrastructure funding programs of the
1637 Federal Government, such as those offered by the United States
1638 Department of Agriculture and the United States Department of
1639 Commerce, and state programs, including those offered by Rural
1640 Economic Development Initiative agencies, and to facilitate
1641 local government or private infrastructure funding efforts, the
1642 office department may award grants for up to 75 percent of the
1643 total infrastructure project cost, or up to 100 percent of the
1644 total infrastructure project cost for a project located in a
1645 rural community as defined in s. 288.0656(2) which is also
1646 located in a fiscally constrained county as defined in s.
1647 218.67(1) or a rural area of opportunity as defined in s.
1648 288.0656(2). Eligible uses of funds may include improving any
1649 inadequate infrastructure that has resulted in regulatory action
1650 that prohibits economic or community growth and reducing the
1651 costs to community users of proposed infrastructure improvements
1652 that exceed such costs in comparable communities. Eligible uses
1653 of funds include improvements to public infrastructure for
1654 industrial or commercial sites and upgrades to or development of
1655 public tourism infrastructure. Authorized infrastructure may
1656 include the following public or public-private partnership
1657 facilities: storm water systems; telecommunications facilities;
1658 roads or other remedies to transportation impediments; nature
1659 based tourism facilities; or other physical requirements
1660 necessary to facilitate tourism, trade, and economic development
1661 activities in the community. Authorized infrastructure may also
1662 include publicly or privately owned self-powered nature-based
1663 tourism facilities, publicly owned telecommunications
1664 facilities, and additions to the distribution facilities of the
1665 existing natural gas utility as defined in s. 366.04(3)(c), the
1666 existing electric utility as defined in s. 366.02, or the
1667 existing water or wastewater utility as defined in s.
1668 367.021(12), or any other existing water or wastewater facility,
1669 which owns a gas or electric distribution system or a water or
1670 wastewater system in this state when:
1671 1. A contribution-in-aid of construction is required to
1672 serve public or public-private partnership facilities under the
1673 tariffs of any natural gas, electric, water, or wastewater
1674 utility as defined herein; and
1675 2. Such utilities as defined herein are willing and able to
1676 provide such service.
1677 (c) The office department may award grants of up to
1678 $300,000 for infrastructure feasibility studies, design and
1679 engineering activities, or other infrastructure planning and
1680 preparation or site readiness activities. Site readiness
1681 expenses may include clearing title, surveys, permitting,
1682 environmental studies, and regulatory compliance costs. Grants
1683 awarded under this paragraph may be used in conjunction with
1684 grants awarded under paragraph (b). In evaluating applications
1685 under this paragraph, the office department shall consider the
1686 extent to which the application seeks to minimize administrative
1687 and consultant expenses.
1688 (d) The office department shall participate in a memorandum
1689 of agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture
1690 under which state funds available through the Rural
1691 Infrastructure Fund may be advanced, in excess of the prescribed
1692 state share, for a project that has received from the United
1693 States Department of Agriculture a preliminary determination of
1694 eligibility for federal financial support. State funds in excess
1695 of the prescribed state share which are advanced pursuant to
1696 this paragraph and the memorandum of agreement shall be
1697 reimbursed when funds are awarded under an application for
1698 federal funding.
1699 (e) To enable local governments to access the resources
1700 available pursuant to s. 403.973(17), the office department may
1701 award grants for surveys, feasibility studies, and other
1702 activities related to the identification and preclearance review
1703 of land which is suitable for preclearance review. Authorized
1704 grants under this paragraph may not exceed $75,000 each, except
1705 in the case of a project in a rural area of opportunity, in
1706 which case the grant may not exceed $300,000. Any funds awarded
1707 under this paragraph must be matched at a level of 50 percent
1708 with local funds, except that any funds awarded for a project in
1709 a rural area of opportunity do not require a match of local
1710 funds. If an application for funding is for a catalyst site, as
1711 defined in s. 288.0656, the requirement for local match may be
1712 waived pursuant to the process in s. 288.06561. In evaluating
1713 applications under this paragraph, the office department shall
1714 consider the extent to which the application seeks to minimize
1715 administrative and consultant expenses.
1716 (3) The office department, in consultation with the
1717 Department of Transportation Florida Tourism Industry Marketing
1718 Corporation, the Department of Environmental Protection, and the
1719 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, as
1720 appropriate, shall review and certify applications pursuant to
1721 s. 288.061. The review must include an evaluation of the
1722 economic benefit and long-term viability. The office has
1723 department shall have final approval for any grant under this
1724 section.
1725 (6) The office shall include in its annual report required
1726 under s. 288.013 detailed information about the fund, including
1727 grants made for the year, grants active, grants terminated or
1728 complete, and the amount of funds not obligated as of 14 days
1729 before the date the report is due.
1730 Section 19. Subsection (1), paragraphs (a), (b), and (e) of
1731 subsection (2), subsections (3) and (6), paragraphs (b) and (c)
1732 of subsection (7), and subsection (8) of section 288.0656,
1733 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
1734 288.0656 Rural Economic Development Initiative.—
1735 (1)(a) Recognizing that rural communities and regions
1736 continue to face extraordinary challenges in their efforts to
1737 significantly improve their economies, specifically in terms of
1738 personal income, job creation, average wages, and strong tax
1739 bases, it is the intent of the Legislature to encourage and
1740 facilitate the location and expansion of major economic
1741 development projects of significant scale in such rural
1742 communities. The Legislature finds that rural communities are
1743 the essential conduits for the economy’s distribution,
1744 manufacturing, and food supply.
1745 (b) The Rural Economic Development Initiative, known as
1746 “REDI,” is created within the Office of Rural Prosperity
1747 department, and all the participation of state and regional
1748 agencies listed in paragraph (6)(a) shall participate in this
1749 initiative is authorized.
1750 (2) As used in this section, the term:
1751 (a) “Catalyst project” means a business locating or
1752 expanding in a rural area of opportunity to serve as an economic
1753 generator of regional significance for the growth of a regional
1754 target industry cluster. The project must provide capital
1755 investment on a scale significant enough to affect the entire
1756 region and result in the development of high-wage and high-skill
1757 jobs.
1758 (b) “Catalyst site” means a parcel or parcels of land
1759 within a rural area of opportunity that has been prioritized as
1760 a geographic site for economic development through partnerships
1761 with state, regional, and local organizations. The site must be
1762 reviewed by REDI and approved by the department for the purposes
1763 of locating a catalyst project.
1764 (c)(e) “Rural community” means:
1765 1. A county with a population of 75,000 or less fewer.
1766 2. A county with a population of 125,000 or less fewer
1767 which is contiguous to a county with a population of 75,000 or
1768 less fewer.
1769 3. A municipality within a county described in subparagraph
1770 1. or subparagraph 2.
1771 4. An unincorporated federal enterprise community or an
1772 incorporated rural city with a population of 25,000 or less
1773 fewer and an employment base focused on traditional agricultural
1774 or resource-based industries, located in a county not defined as
1775 rural, which has at least three or more of the economic distress
1776 factors identified in paragraph (a) paragraph (c) and verified
1777 by the office department.
1778
1779 For purposes of this paragraph, population shall be determined
1780 in accordance with the most recent official estimate pursuant to
1781 s. 186.901.
1782 (3) REDI shall be responsible for coordinating and focusing
1783 the efforts and resources of state and regional agencies on the
1784 problems which affect the fiscal, economic, and community
1785 viability of Florida’s economically distressed rural
1786 communities, working with local governments, community-based
1787 organizations, and private organizations that have an interest
1788 in the growth and development of these communities to find ways
1789 to balance environmental and growth management issues with local
1790 needs.
1791 (6)(a) By August 1 of each year, the head of each of the
1792 following agencies and organizations shall designate a deputy
1793 secretary or higher-level staff person from within the agency or
1794 organization to serve as the REDI representative for the agency
1795 or organization:
1796 1. The Department of Transportation.
1797 2. The Department of Environmental Protection.
1798 3. The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
1799 4. The Department of State.
1800 5. The Department of Health.
1801 6. The Department of Children and Families.
1802 7. The Department of Corrections.
1803 8. The Department of Education.
1804 9. The Department of Juvenile Justice.
1805 10. The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
1806 11. Each water management district.
1807 12. CareerSource Florida, Inc.
1808 13. VISIT Florida.
1809 14. The Florida Regional Planning Council Association.
1810 15. The Agency for Health Care Administration.
1811 16. The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS).
1812 (b) An alternate for each designee must shall also be
1813 chosen, who must also be a deputy secretary or higher-level
1814 staff person, and the names of the designees and alternates must
1815 shall be reported sent to the director of the Office of Rural
1816 Prosperity. At least one rural liaison from each regional rural
1817 community liaison center must participate in the REDI meetings
1818 Secretary of Commerce.
1819 (c) REDI shall meet at least each month, but may meet more
1820 often as necessary. Each REDI representative, or his or her
1821 designee, shall be physically present or available by means of
1822 electronic communication for each meeting.
1823 (d)(b) Each REDI representative must have comprehensive
1824 knowledge of his or her agency’s functions, both regulatory and
1825 service in nature, and of the state’s economic goals, policies,
1826 and programs. This person shall be the primary point of contact
1827 for his or her agency with REDI on issues and projects relating
1828 to economically distressed rural communities and with regard to
1829 expediting project review, shall ensure a prompt effective
1830 response to problems arising with regard to rural issues, and
1831 shall work closely with the other REDI representatives in the
1832 identification of opportunities for preferential awards of
1833 program funds, contractual or other agreement provisions which
1834 meet the requirements of s. 215.971, and allowances and waiver
1835 of program requirements when necessary to encourage and
1836 facilitate long-term private capital investment and job
1837 creation.
1838 (e)(c) The REDI representatives shall work with REDI in the
1839 review and evaluation of statutes and rules for adverse impact
1840 on rural communities and the development of alternative
1841 proposals to mitigate that impact.
1842 (f)(d) Each REDI representative shall be responsible for
1843 ensuring that each district office or facility of his or her
1844 agency is informed quarterly about the Rural Economic
1845 Development Initiative and for providing assistance throughout
1846 the agency in the implementation of REDI activities.
1847 (7)
1848 (b) Designation as a rural area of opportunity under this
1849 subsection shall be contingent upon the execution of a
1850 memorandum of agreement among the office department; the
1851 governing body of the county; and the governing bodies of any
1852 municipalities to be included within a rural area of
1853 opportunity. Such agreement shall specify the terms and
1854 conditions of the designation, including, but not limited to,
1855 the duties and responsibilities of the county and any
1856 participating municipalities to take actions designed to
1857 facilitate the retention and expansion of existing businesses in
1858 the area, as well as the recruitment of new businesses to the
1859 area.
1860 (c) Each rural area of opportunity may designate catalyst
1861 projects, provided that each catalyst project is specifically
1862 recommended by REDI and confirmed as a catalyst project by the
1863 department. All state agencies and departments shall use all
1864 available tools and resources to the extent permissible by law
1865 to promote the creation and development of each catalyst project
1866 and the development of catalyst sites.
1867 (8) REDI shall submit a report to the Office of Rural
1868 Prosperity department on all REDI activities for the previous
1869 fiscal year as a supplement to the office’s department’s annual
1870 report required under s. 288.013 s. 20.60. This supplementary
1871 report must include:
1872 (a) A status report on every project all projects currently
1873 being coordinated through REDI, the number of preferential
1874 awards and allowances made pursuant to this section in detail by
1875 award, allowance, or match type, the dollar amount of such
1876 awards, and the names of the recipients.
1877 (b) A description of all waivers of program requirements
1878 granted, including a list by program of each waiver that was
1879 granted. If waivers were requested but were not granted, a list
1880 of ungranted waivers, including reasons why the waivers were not
1881 granted, must be included.
1882 (c) Detailed information as to the economic impact of the
1883 projects coordinated by REDI.
1884 (d) Recommendations based on the review and evaluation of
1885 statutes and rules having an adverse impact on rural communities
1886 and proposals to mitigate such adverse impacts.
1887 (e) Legislative recommendations for statutory waivers or
1888 reductions of specified economic development program
1889 requirements, including financial match waivers or reductions,
1890 for applicants within rural areas of opportunity.
1891 (f) Outcomes of proposals submitted pursuant to s. 288.019.
1892 Section 20. Section 288.06561, Florida Statutes, is
1893 repealed.
1894 Section 21. Subsections (2), (3), and (4) of section
1895 288.0657, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
1896 288.0657 Florida rural economic development strategy
1897 grants.—
1898 (2) The Office of Rural Prosperity shall provide department
1899 may accept and administer moneys appropriated to the department
1900 for providing grants to assist rural communities to develop and
1901 implement strategic economic development plans. Grants may be
1902 provided to assist with costs associated with marketing a site
1903 to business and site selectors for an economic development
1904 project that is part of an economic development plan, either as
1905 part of funding to develop and implement a plan or related to an
1906 already adopted plan.
1907 (3) A rural community, an economic development organization
1908 in a rural area, or a regional organization representing at
1909 least one rural community or such economic development
1910 organizations may apply for such grants. The rural liaison for
1911 the rural community shall assist those applying for such grants.
1912 (4) The office department shall establish criteria for
1913 reviewing grant applications. These criteria must shall include,
1914 but are not limited to, the degree of participation and
1915 commitment by the local community and the application’s
1916 consistency with local comprehensive plans or the application’s
1917 proposal to ensure such consistency. Grants for marketing may
1918 include funding for advertising campaign materials and costs
1919 associated with meetings, trade missions, and professional
1920 development affiliated with site preparation and marketing. The
1921 office department shall review each application for a grant. The
1922 department may approve grants only to the extent that funds are
1923 appropriated for such grants by the Legislature.
1924 Section 22. Paragraph (a) of subsection (13) of section
1925 288.1226, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1926 288.1226 Florida Tourism Industry Marketing Corporation;
1927 use of property; board of directors; duties; audit.—
1928 (13) FOUR-YEAR MARKETING PLAN.—
1929 (a) The corporation shall, in collaboration with the
1930 department, develop a 4-year marketing plan. At a minimum, the
1931 marketing plan must discuss the following:
1932 1. Continuation of overall tourism growth in this state.
1933 2. Expansion to new or under-represented tourist markets.
1934 3. Maintenance of traditional and loyal tourist markets.
1935 4. Coordination of efforts with county destination
1936 marketing organizations, other local government marketing
1937 groups, privately owned attractions and destinations, and other
1938 private sector partners to create a seamless, four-season
1939 advertising campaign for the state and its regions.
1940 5. Development of innovative techniques or promotions to
1941 build repeat visitation by targeted segments of the tourist
1942 population.
1943 6. Consideration of innovative sources of state funding for
1944 tourism marketing.
1945 7. Promotion of nature-based tourism, including, but not
1946 limited to, promotion of the Florida Greenways and Trails System
1947 as described under s. 260.014 and the Florida Shared-Use
1948 Nonmotorized Trail Network as described under s. 339.81.
1949 8. Coordination of efforts with the Office of Greenways and
1950 Trails of the Department of Environmental Protection and the
1951 department to promote and assist local communities, including,
1952 but not limited to, communities designated as trail towns by the
1953 Office of Greenways and Trails, to maximize use of nearby trails
1954 as economic assets, including specific promotion of trail-based
1955 tourism.
1956 9. Promotion of heritage tourism.
1957 10. Development of a component to address emergency
1958 response to natural and manmade disasters from a marketing
1959 standpoint.
1960 11. Provision of appropriate marketing assistance resources
1961 to small, rural, and agritourism businesses located in this
1962 state. Such resources may include, but are not limited to,
1963 marketing plans, marketing assistance, promotional support,
1964 media development, technical expertise, marketing advice,
1965 technology training, and social marketing support.
1966 Section 23. Section 288.12266, Florida Statutes, is
1967 repealed.
1968 Section 24. Paragraph (f) of subsection (2) and paragraphs
1969 (a), (b), and (c) of subsection (4) of section 288.9961, Florida
1970 Statutes, are amended, and subsections (6) and (7) are added to
1971 that section, to read:
1972 288.9961 Promotion of broadband adoption; Florida Office of
1973 Broadband.—
1974 (2) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term:
1975 (f) “Underserved” means a geographic area of this state in
1976 which there is no provider of broadband Internet service that
1977 offers a connection to the Internet with a capacity for
1978 transmission at a consistent speed of at least 100 megabits per
1979 second downstream and at least 20 10 megabits per second
1980 upstream.
1981 (4) FLORIDA OFFICE OF BROADBAND.—The Florida Office of
1982 Broadband is created within the Division of Community
1983 Development in the department for the purpose of developing,
1984 marketing, and promoting broadband Internet services in this
1985 state. The office, in the performance of its duties, shall do
1986 all of the following:
1987 (a) Create a strategic plan that has goals and strategies
1988 for increasing and improving the availability of, access to, and
1989 use of broadband Internet service in this state. In development
1990 of the plan, the department shall incorporate applicable federal
1991 broadband activities, including any efforts or initiatives of
1992 the Federal Communications Commission, to improve broadband
1993 Internet service in this state. The plan must identify available
1994 federal funding sources for the expansion or improvement of
1995 broadband. The strategic plan must be submitted to the Governor,
1996 the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
1997 Representatives by June 30, 2022. The strategic plan must be
1998 updated biennially thereafter. The plan must include a process
1999 to review and verify public input regarding transmission speeds
2000 and availability of broadband Internet service throughout this
2001 state. The office shall consult with each regional rural
2002 community liaison center within the Office of Rural Prosperity
2003 on the development and update of the plan.
2004 (b) Build and facilitate local technology planning teams or
2005 partnerships with members representing cross-sections of the
2006 community, which may include, but are not limited to,
2007 representatives from the following organizations and industries:
2008 libraries, K-12 education, colleges and universities, local
2009 health care providers, private businesses, community
2010 organizations, economic development organizations, local
2011 governments, tourism, parks and recreation, and agriculture. The
2012 local technology planning teams or partnerships shall work with
2013 rural communities to help the communities understand their
2014 current broadband availability, locate unserved and underserved
2015 businesses and residents, identify assets relevant to broadband
2016 deployment, build partnerships with broadband service providers,
2017 and identify opportunities to leverage assets and reduce
2018 barriers to the deployment of broadband Internet services in the
2019 community. The teams or partnerships must be proactive in rural
2020 communities as defined in s. 288.0656 fiscally constrained
2021 counties in identifying and providing assistance, in
2022 coordination with the regional rural community liaison centers
2023 within the Office of Rural Prosperity, with applying for federal
2024 grants for broadband Internet service.
2025 (c) Provide technical and planning assistance to rural
2026 communities in coordination with the regional rural community
2027 liaison centers within the Office of Rural Prosperity.
2028 (6) The office shall submit to the Governor, the President
2029 of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives a
2030 quarterly report detailing the implementation of broadband
2031 activities in rural, unserved, and underserved communities. Such
2032 information must be listed by county and include the amount of
2033 state and federal funds allocated and expended in the county by
2034 program; the progress toward deploying broadband in the county;
2035 any technical assistance provided; the activities of the local
2036 technology planning teams and partnerships; and the fulfillment
2037 of any other duties of the office required by this part.
2038 (7) By December 31 each year, the office shall submit to
2039 the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of
2040 the House of Representatives an annual report on the office’s
2041 operations and accomplishments for that calendar year and the
2042 status of broadband Internet service access and use in this
2043 state. The report must also incorporate the quarterly reports on
2044 rural, unserved, and underserved communities required by
2045 subsection (6).
2046 Section 25. Section 290.06561, Florida Statutes, is
2047 repealed.
2048 Section 26. Paragraph (a) of subsection (5) of section
2049 319.32, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
2050 319.32 Fees; service charges; disposition.—
2051 (5)(a) Forty-seven dollars of each fee collected, except
2052 for fees charged on a certificate of title for a motor vehicle
2053 for hire registered under s. 320.08(6), for each applicable
2054 original certificate of title and each applicable duplicate copy
2055 of a certificate of title shall be deposited as follows: into
2056 the State Transportation Trust Fund. Deposits to the State
2057 Transportation Trust Fund pursuant to this paragraph may not
2058 exceed $200 million in any fiscal year, and from any collections
2059 in excess of that amount during the fiscal year,
2060 1. The first $30 million collected shall be deposited into
2061 the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund;, and
2062 2. Any remaining collections shall be paid into the State
2063 Transportation Trust General Revenue Fund.
2064 Section 27. Subsection (37) is added to section 334.044,
2065 Florida Statutes, to read:
2066 334.044 Powers and duties of the department.—The department
2067 shall have the following general powers and duties:
2068 (37) To provide technical assistance and support from the
2069 appropriate district of the department to counties that are not
2070 located in a metropolitan planning organization created pursuant
2071 to s. 339.175.
2072 Section 28. Section 339.0801, Florida Statutes, is amended
2073 to read:
2074 339.0801 Allocation of increased revenues derived from
2075 amendments to s. 319.32(5)(a) by ch. 2012-128.—
2076 (1) The first $200 million of funds that result from
2077 increased revenues to the State Transportation Trust Fund
2078 derived from the amendments to s. 319.32(5)(a) made by s. 11,
2079 chapter 2012-128, Laws of Florida, this act must be used
2080 annually, first as set forth in paragraph (a) subsection (1) and
2081 then as set forth in paragraphs (b), (c), and (d) subsections
2082 (2)-(4), notwithstanding any other provision of law:
2083 (a)1.(1)(a) Beginning in the 2013-2014 fiscal year and
2084 annually for 30 years thereafter, $10 million shall be for the
2085 purpose of funding any seaport project identified in the adopted
2086 work program of the Department of Transportation, to be known as
2087 the Seaport Investment Program.
2088 2.(b) The revenues may be assigned, pledged, or set aside
2089 as a trust for the payment of principal or interest on revenue
2090 bonds, or other forms of indebtedness issued by an individual
2091 port or appropriate local government having jurisdiction
2092 thereof, or collectively by interlocal agreement among any of
2093 the ports, or used to purchase credit support to permit such
2094 borrowings. Alternatively, revenue bonds shall be issued by the
2095 Division of Bond Finance at the request of the Department of
2096 Transportation under the State Bond Act and shall be secured by
2097 such revenues as are provided in this subsection.
2098 3.(c) Revenue bonds or other indebtedness issued hereunder
2099 are not a general obligation of the state and are secured solely
2100 by a first lien on the revenues distributed under this
2101 subsection.
2102 4.(d) The state covenants with holders of the revenue bonds
2103 or other instruments of indebtedness issued pursuant to this
2104 subsection that it will not repeal this subsection; nor take any
2105 other action, including but not limited to amending this
2106 subsection, that will materially and adversely affect the rights
2107 of such holders so long as revenue bonds or other indebtedness
2108 authorized by this subsection are outstanding.
2109 5.(e) The proceeds of any revenue bonds or other
2110 indebtedness, after payment of costs of issuance and
2111 establishment of any required reserves, shall be invested in
2112 projects approved by the Department of Transportation and
2113 included in the department’s adopted work program, by amendment
2114 if necessary. As required under s. 11(f), Art. VII of the State
2115 Constitution, the Legislature approves projects included in the
2116 department’s adopted work program, including any projects added
2117 to the work program by amendment under s. 339.135(7).
2118 6.(f) Any revenues that are not used for the payment of
2119 bonds as authorized by this subsection may be used for purposes
2120 authorized under the Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic
2121 Development Program. This revenue source is in addition to any
2122 amounts provided for and appropriated in accordance with ss.
2123 311.07 and 320.20(3) and (4).
2124 (b)(2) Beginning in the 2013-2014 fiscal year and annually
2125 thereafter, $10 million shall be transferred to the
2126 Transportation Disadvantaged Trust Fund, to be used as specified
2127 in s. 427.0159.
2128 (c)(3) Beginning in the 2013-2014 fiscal year and annually
2129 thereafter, $10 million shall be allocated to the Small County
2130 Outreach Program to be used as specified in s. 339.2818. These
2131 funds are in addition to the funds provided for the program
2132 pursuant to s. 201.15(4)(a)2.
2133 (d)(4) After the distributions required pursuant to
2134 paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) subsections (1)-(3), the remaining
2135 funds shall be used annually for transportation projects within
2136 this state for existing or planned strategic transportation
2137 projects which connect major markets within this state or
2138 between this state and other states, which focus on job
2139 creation, and which increase this state’s viability in the
2140 national and global markets.
2141 (2) The remaining funds that result from increased revenue
2142 to the State Transportation Trust Fund derived pursuant to s.
2143 319.32(5)(a) must be used annually, notwithstanding any other
2144 law, beginning in the 2025-2026 fiscal year and annually
2145 thereafter, for the Small County Road Assistance Program as
2146 prescribed in s. 339.2816.
2147 (3)(5) Pursuant to s. 339.135(7), the department shall
2148 amend the work program to add the projects provided for in this
2149 section.
2150 Section 29. Subsection (3) and paragraph (a) of subsection
2151 (4) of section 339.2816, Florida Statutes, are amended, and
2152 paragraph (c) of subsection (4) of that section is reenacted, to
2153 read:
2154 339.2816 Small County Road Assistance Program.—
2155 (3) Beginning with fiscal year 1999-2000 until fiscal year
2156 2009-2010, and beginning again with fiscal year 2012-2013, up to
2157 $25 million annually from the State Transportation Trust Fund
2158 must may be used for the purposes of funding the Small County
2159 Road Assistance Program as described in this section. In
2160 addition, beginning with fiscal year 2025-2026, the department
2161 must use the additional revenues allocated by s. 339.0801 for
2162 the Small County Road Assistance Program.
2163 (4)(a) Small counties shall be eligible to compete for
2164 funds that have been designated for the Small County Road
2165 Assistance Program for resurfacing or reconstruction projects on
2166 county roads that were part of the county road system on June
2167 10, 1995. Capacity improvements on county roads are shall not be
2168 eligible for funding under the program unless a safety issue
2169 exists or the department finds it necessary to widen existing
2170 lanes as part of a resurfacing or reconstruction project.
2171 (c) The following criteria must be used to prioritize road
2172 projects for funding under the program:
2173 1. The primary criterion is the physical condition of the
2174 road as measured by the department.
2175 2. As secondary criteria the department may consider:
2176 a. Whether a road is used as an evacuation route.
2177 b. Whether a road has high levels of agricultural travel.
2178 c. Whether a road is considered a major arterial route.
2179 d. Whether a road is considered a feeder road.
2180 e. Whether a road is located in a fiscally constrained
2181 county, as defined in s. 218.67(1).
2182 f. Other criteria related to the impact of a project on the
2183 public road system or on the state or local economy as
2184 determined by the department.
2185 Section 30. Subsection (3) of section 339.2817, Florida
2186 Statutes, is amended, and a new subsection (6) is added to that
2187 section, to read:
2188 339.2817 County Incentive Grant Program.—
2189 (3) The department must consider, but is not limited to,
2190 the following criteria for evaluation of projects for County
2191 Incentive Grant Program assistance:
2192 (a) The extent to which the project will encourage,
2193 enhance, or create economic benefits;
2194 (b) The likelihood that assistance would enable the project
2195 to proceed at an earlier date than the project could otherwise
2196 proceed;
2197 (c) The extent to which assistance would foster innovative
2198 public-private partnerships and attract private debt or equity
2199 investment;
2200 (d) The extent to which the project uses new technologies,
2201 including intelligent transportation systems, which enhance the
2202 efficiency of the project;
2203 (e) The extent to which the project enhances connectivity
2204 between rural agricultural areas and market distribution
2205 centers;
2206 (f)(e) The extent to which the project helps to maintain or
2207 protect the environment; and
2208 (g)(f) The extent to which the project includes
2209 transportation benefits for improving intermodalism and safety.
2210 (6) Beginning in the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the department
2211 shall give priority to a county located either wholly or
2212 partially within the Everglades Agricultural Area as defined in
2213 s. 373.4592(15) which, notwithstanding subsection (4), requests
2214 100 percent of the project costs for an eligible project that
2215 meets the criteria established in paragraph (3)(e). Requests
2216 under this subsection are limited to $15 million annually. This
2217 subsection expires July 1, 2031.
2218 Section 31. Subsections (1), (2), (3), (6), (7), and (8) of
2219 section 339.2818, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
2220 339.2818 Small County Outreach Program.—
2221 (1) There is created within the department of
2222 Transportation the Small County Outreach Program. The purpose of
2223 this program is to assist small county governments in repairing
2224 or rehabilitating county bridges, paving unpaved roads,
2225 addressing road-related drainage improvements, resurfacing or
2226 reconstructing county roads, or constructing capacity or safety
2227 improvements to county roads.
2228 (2) For the purposes of this section, the term “small
2229 county” means any county that has a population of 200,000 or
2230 less as determined by the most recent official population census
2231 determination estimate pursuant to s. 186.901.
2232 (3) Funds allocated under this program, pursuant to s. 4,
2233 ch. 2000-257, Laws of Florida, are in addition to any funds
2234 provided pursuant to s. 339.2816, for the Small County Road
2235 Assistance Program.
2236 (5)(6) Funds paid into the State Transportation Trust Fund
2237 pursuant to ss. 201.15, 320.072, and 339.0801 s. 201.15 for the
2238 purposes of the Small County Outreach Program are hereby
2239 annually appropriated for expenditure to support the Small
2240 County Outreach Program.
2241 (6)(7) Subject to a specific appropriation in addition to
2242 funds annually appropriated for projects under this section, a
2243 municipality within a rural area of opportunity or a rural area
2244 of opportunity community designated under s. 288.0656(7)(a) may
2245 compete for the additional project funding using the criteria
2246 listed in subsection (3) (4) at up to 100 percent of project
2247 costs, excluding capacity improvement projects.
2248 (8) Subject to a specific appropriation in addition to
2249 funds appropriated for projects under this section, a local
2250 government either wholly or partially within the Everglades
2251 Agricultural Area as defined in s. 373.4592(15), the Peace River
2252 Basin, or the Suwannee River Basin may compete for additional
2253 funding using the criteria listed in paragraph (4)(c) at up to
2254 100 percent of project costs on state or county roads used
2255 primarily as farm-to-market connections between rural
2256 agricultural areas and market distribution centers, excluding
2257 capacity improvement projects.
2258 Section 32. Section 339.68, Florida Statutes, is amended to
2259 read:
2260 (Substantial rewording of section.
2261 See s. 339.68, F.S., for present text.)
2262 339.68 Florida Arterial Road Modernization Program.—
2263 (1) The Legislature finds that increasing demands continue
2264 to be placed on rural arterial roads in this state by a fast
2265 growing economy, continued population growth, and increased
2266 tourism. Investment in the rural arterial roads of this state is
2267 needed to maintain the safety, mobility, reliability, and
2268 resiliency of the transportation system in order to support the
2269 movement of people, goods, and commodities; to enhance economic
2270 prosperity and competitiveness; and to enrich the quality of
2271 life of the rural communities and the environment of this state.
2272 (2) The Florida Arterial Road Modernization Program is
2273 created within the department to make capacity and safety
2274 improvements to two-lane arterial roads or connect existing
2275 arterial roads located in rural communities. For purposes of
2276 this section, the term “rural community” has the same meaning as
2277 provided in s. 288.0656.
2278 (3) Beginning in the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the department
2279 shall allocate from the State Transportation Trust Fund a
2280 minimum of $50 million in each fiscal year for purposes of
2281 funding the program. This funding is in addition to any other
2282 funding provided to the program by any other law.
2283 (4) The department shall use the following criteria to
2284 prioritize projects for funding under the program:
2285 (a) Whether the road has documented safety concerns or
2286 requires additional safety and design improvements. This may be
2287 evidenced by the number of fatalities or crashes per vehicle
2288 mile traveled.
2289 (b) Whether the road has or is projected to have a
2290 significant amount of truck tractor traffic as determined by the
2291 department. For purposes of this paragraph, the term “truck
2292 tractor” has the same meaning as in s. 320.01(11).
2293 (c) Whether the road is used to transport agricultural
2294 products and commodities from the farm to the market or other
2295 sale or distribution point.
2296 (d) Whether the road is used to transport goods to or from
2297 warehouses, distribution centers, or intermodal logistics
2298 centers as defined in s. 311.101(2).
2299 (e) Whether the road is used as an evacuation route.
2300 (f) Whether the physical condition of the road meets
2301 department standards.
2302 (g) Whether the road currently has, or is projected to have
2303 within the next 5 years, a level of service of D, E, or F.
2304 (h) Any other criteria related to the impact of a project
2305 on the public road system or on the state or local economy as
2306 determined by the department.
2307 (5) By January 1, 2027, and every 2 years thereafter, the
2308 department shall submit to the Governor, the President of the
2309 Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives a report
2310 regarding the use and condition of arterial roads located in
2311 rural communities, which report must include the following:
2312 (a) A map of roads located in rural communities which are
2313 designated as arterial roads.
2314 (b) A needs assessment that must include, but is not
2315 limited to, consideration of infrastructure improvements to
2316 improve capacity on arterial roads in rural communities.
2317 (c) A synopsis of the department’s project prioritization
2318 process.
2319 (d) An estimate of the local and state economic impact of
2320 improving capacity on arterial roads in rural communities.
2321 (e) A listing of the arterial roads and the associated
2322 improvements to be included in the program and a schedule or
2323 timeline for the inclusion of such projects in the work program.
2324 Section 33. (1) The Department of Transportation shall
2325 allocate the additional funds provided by this act to implement
2326 the Small County Road Assistance Program as created by s.
2327 339.2816, Florida Statutes, and amend the current tentative work
2328 program for the 2025-2026 through 2031-2032 fiscal years to
2329 include additional projects. In addition, before adoption of the
2330 work program, the department shall submit a budget amendment
2331 pursuant to s. 339.135(7), Florida Statutes, requesting budget
2332 authority necessary to implement the additional projects.
2333 (2) The department shall allocate sufficient funds to
2334 implement the Florida Arterial Road Modernization Program,
2335 develop a plan to expend the revenues as specified in s. 339.68,
2336 Florida Statutes, and, before its adoption, amend the current
2337 tentative work program for the 2025-2026 through 2031-2032
2338 fiscal years to include the program’s projects. In addition,
2339 before adoption of the work program, the department shall submit
2340 a budget amendment pursuant to s. 339.135(7), Florida Statutes,
2341 requesting budget authority necessary to implement the program
2342 as specified in s. 339.68, Florida Statutes.
2343 (3) Notwithstanding any other law, the increase in revenue
2344 to the State Transportation Trust Fund derived from the
2345 amendments to ss. 201.15 and 319.32, Florida Statutes, made by
2346 this act and deposited into the trust fund pursuant to ss.
2347 201.15 and 339.0801, Florida Statutes, shall be used by the
2348 department to fund the programs as specified in this section.
2349 Section 34. Paragraph (h) is added to subsection (2) of
2350 section 381.402, Florida Statutes, and paragraph (b) of
2351 subsection (3) of that section is amended, to read:
2352 381.402 Florida Reimbursement Assistance for Medical
2353 Education Program.—
2354 (2) The following licensed or certified health care
2355 practitioners are eligible to participate in the program:
2356 (h) Medical doctors or doctors of osteopathic medicine who
2357 are board certified or board eligible in emergency medicine and
2358 employed by or under contract with a rural hospital as defined
2359 in s. 395.602(2)(b) or a rural emergency hospital as defined in
2360 s. 395.607(1)(a) to provide medical care in the rural hospital’s
2361 or rural emergency hospital’s emergency department.
2362
2363 Primary care medical specialties for physicians include
2364 obstetrics, gynecology, general and family practice, geriatrics,
2365 internal medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry, and other specialties
2366 which may be identified by the Department of Health.
2367 (3) From the funds available, the Department of Health
2368 shall make payments as follows:
2369 (b) All payments are contingent on continued proof of:
2370 1.a. Primary care practice in a rural hospital as defined
2371 in s. 395.602(2)(b) or an underserved area designated by the
2372 Department of Health, provided the practitioner accepts Medicaid
2373 reimbursement if eligible for such reimbursement; or
2374 b. Emergency medicine practice in a rural hospital as
2375 defined in s. 395.602(2)(b) or rural emergency hospital as
2376 defined in s. 395.607(1)(a), provided the practitioner accepts
2377 Medicaid reimbursement if eligible for such reimbursement; or
2378 c.b. For practitioners other than physicians, practice in
2379 other settings, including, but not limited to, a nursing home
2380 facility as defined in s. 400.021, a home health agency as
2381 defined in s. 400.462, or an intermediate care facility for the
2382 developmentally disabled as defined in s. 400.960. Any such
2383 setting must be located in, or serve residents or patients in,
2384 an underserved area designated by the Department of Health and
2385 must provide services to Medicaid patients.
2386 2. Providing 25 hours annually of volunteer primary care
2387 services within the practitioner’s scope of practice in a free
2388 clinic as specified in s. 766.1115(3)(d)14. or through another
2389 volunteer program operated by the state pursuant to part IV of
2390 chapter 110 and approved by the department. In order to meet the
2391 requirements of this subparagraph, the volunteer hours must be
2392 verifiable in a manner determined by the department.
2393 Section 35. Section 381.403, Florida Statutes, is created
2394 to read:
2395 381.403 Rural Access to Primary and Preventive Care Grant
2396 Program.—The Legislature recognizes that access to primary and
2397 preventive health care is critical for the well-being of the
2398 residents of this state. The Legislature also recognizes that
2399 many rural areas of this state have significantly fewer
2400 available physicians, physician assistants, and autonomous
2401 advanced practice registered nurses who serve those areas. To
2402 increase the availability of health care in such underserved
2403 rural areas, there is created the Rural Access to Primary and
2404 Preventive Care Grant Program within the Department of Health to
2405 use grants to incentivize the creation or expansion of health
2406 care practices in those areas.
2407 (1) As used in this section, the term:
2408 (a) “Autonomous advanced practice registered nurse” means
2409 an advanced practice registered nurse who is registered under s.
2410 464.0123 to engage in autonomous practice.
2411 (b) “Majority ownership” means ownership of more than 50
2412 percent of the interests in a private practice.
2413 (c) “Physician” means a physician licensed under chapter
2414 458 or chapter 459.
2415 (d) “Physician assistant” means a physician assistant
2416 licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459 to perform medical
2417 services delegated by a supervising physician.
2418 (e) “Preventive care” means routine health care services
2419 designed to prevent illness. The term includes, but is not
2420 limited to, general physical examinations provided on an annual
2421 basis, screenings for acute or chronic illnesses, and patient
2422 counseling to promote overall wellness and avoid the need for
2423 emergency services.
2424 (f) “Primary care” means health care services focused
2425 primarily on preventive care, wellness care, and treatment for
2426 common illnesses. The term may include the health care provider
2427 serving as a patient’s entry point into the overall health care
2428 system and coordinating a patient’s care among specialists or
2429 acute care settings. The term does not include elective services
2430 provided solely for cosmetic purposes.
2431 (g) “Program” means the Rural Access to Primary and
2432 Preventive Care Grant Program.
2433 (h) “Qualifying rural area” means a rural community as
2434 defined in s. 288.0657 in this state which is also designated as
2435 a health professional shortage area by the Health Resources and
2436 Services Administration of the United States Department of
2437 Health and Human Services.
2438 (2) The department shall award grants under the program to
2439 physicians, physician assistants, and autonomous advanced
2440 practice registered nurses who intend to open a new private
2441 practice in a qualifying rural area or who intend to open a new
2442 location within a qualifying rural area if the current private
2443 practice is located in a different county. To qualify for a
2444 grant, an applicant must meet all of the following criteria:
2445 (a) The practice must:
2446 1. Have majority ownership by physicians, physician
2447 assistants, or autonomous advanced practice registered nurses,
2448 or a combination thereof.
2449 2. Be physically located in a qualifying rural area and
2450 serve at that location patients who live in that qualifying
2451 rural area or in other nearby qualifying rural areas. The
2452 practice may also serve patients who reside outside of a
2453 qualifying rural area. While the practice may use telehealth to
2454 supplement the services provided at the location, the majority
2455 of services provided by the practice must be provided in-person
2456 at the physical location.
2457 3. Accept Medicaid patients.
2458 4. Provide services solely in primary care or preventative
2459 care, except that a physician, and any nurse licensed under
2460 chapter 464 or any physician assistant supervised by the
2461 physician, may provide services at the practice in primary care
2462 or preventative care, or services that are within the
2463 practitioner’s scope of practice based on the physician’s board
2464 certified specialty in obstetrics, gynecology, general and
2465 family practice, geriatrics, internal medicine, pediatrics, or
2466 psychiatry.
2467 (b) The owners of the practice must commit to providing the
2468 following information to the department on an annual basis, and
2469 upon request by the department, for the duration of the contract
2470 entered into pursuant to subsection (6):
2471 1. Deidentified patient encounter data.
2472 2. A detailed report on the use of grant funds until such
2473 funds are expended.
2474 (3) By March 1, 2026, the department shall create an
2475 application process for eligible physicians, physician
2476 assistants, and autonomous advanced practice registered nurses
2477 to apply for grants under the program. The application must
2478 require a detailed budget of anticipated use of grant funds and
2479 how the new or existing practice will meet the requirements of
2480 subsection (2). The department shall establish a ranking system
2481 to determine which applicants will be awarded grants if there
2482 are more applicants for the program than can be awarded grants
2483 with available appropriated funds.
2484 (4) Subject to specific appropriation, the department may
2485 award grants of up to $250,000 to eligible applicants. Only one
2486 grant may be awarded per practice. Grant funds awarded for
2487 establishing a new private practice or a new practice location
2488 may be used for any of the following expenses:
2489 (a) Facility construction, acquisition, renovation, or
2490 lease.
2491 (b) Purchasing medical equipment.
2492 (c) Purchasing or implementing information technology
2493 equipment or services.
2494 (d) Purchasing or implementing telehealth technology.
2495 (e) Training on the use of medical equipment, information
2496 technology, or telehealth technology implemented under paragraph
2497 (b), paragraph (c), or paragraph (d), respectively.
2498 (5) Grant funds may not be used for any of the following:
2499 (a) Salaries.
2500 (b) Utilities.
2501 (c) Internet or telecommunications services other than
2502 those necessary for implementing telehealth technology under
2503 paragraph (4)(d).
2504 (d) Insurance.
2505 (e) Incidental maintenance and repairs.
2506 (f) Disposable medical supplies.
2507 (g) Medicines or vaccines.
2508 (h) Licensing or certification fees, including costs for
2509 continuing education other than training under paragraph (4)(e).
2510 (6) The department shall enter into a contract with each
2511 grant recipient which details the requirements for the
2512 expenditure of grant funds for that recipient. The contract must
2513 include, at a minimum, all of the following:
2514 (a) The purpose of the contract.
2515 (b) Specific performance standards and responsibilities for
2516 the recipient under the contract, including penalties for not
2517 meeting such performance standards and responsibilities.
2518 (c) A detailed project or contract budget, if applicable.
2519 (d) Reporting requirements for grant recipients to provide
2520 information to the department under paragraph (2)(b) as well as
2521 any additional information the department deems necessary for
2522 the administration of the program.
2523 (7) The department may adopt rules to implement the
2524 program.
2525 (8) Beginning July 1, 2026, and each year thereafter in
2526 which there are outstanding contracts with grant recipients
2527 under subsection (6), the department shall provide a report to
2528 the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of
2529 the House of Representatives which includes, but need not be
2530 limited to, all of the following:
2531 (a) Each grant awarded, including the proposed uses for
2532 each grant.
2533 (b) The progress on each outstanding contract.
2534 (c) The number of patients residing in rural areas who were
2535 served by grant awardees.
2536 (d) The number of Medicaid recipients who were served by
2537 grant awardees.
2538 (e) The number and types of services provided during
2539 patient encounters in locations opened under the program.
2540 (f) The number of health care practitioners, delineated by
2541 licensure type, providing services in locations opened under the
2542 program.
2543 (9) This section is repealed July 1, 2035, unless reviewed
2544 and saved from repeal through reenactment by the Legislature.
2545 Section 36. Section 381.9856, Florida Statutes, is created
2546 to read:
2547 381.9856 Stroke, Cardiac, and Obstetric Response and
2548 Education Grant Program.—
2549 (1) PROGRAM CREATION.—The Stroke, Cardiac, and Obstetric
2550 Response and Education (SCORE) Grant Program is created within
2551 the Department of Health.
2552 (2) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the program is to improve
2553 patient outcomes and the coordination of emergency medical care
2554 in rural communities by increasing access to high-quality
2555 stroke, cardiac, and obstetric care through the application of
2556 technology and innovative training, such as blended learning
2557 training programs. Blended learning training programs ensure
2558 that participants gain both the theoretical foundations of
2559 diagnosis and management as well as real-world clinical
2560 experience through scenario-based learning, ultimately enhancing
2561 decisionmaking and patient outcomes.
2562 (3) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term:
2563 (a) “Blended learning training program” means a structured
2564 educational model that uses blended learning methodologies,
2565 including simulation-based training, virtual reality, and
2566 distance learning technologies, in conjunction with hands-on
2567 instruction, such as simulation-based practice, and in-person
2568 skills sessions to provide comprehensive education.
2569 (b) “High-risk care provider” means a licensed health care
2570 facility or licensed ambulance service that regularly provides
2571 emergency or ongoing care to patients experiencing a stroke,
2572 heart attack, or pregnancy-related emergency.
2573 (c) “Rural community” has the same meaning as provided in
2574 s. 288.0657.
2575 (4) GRANT PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.—
2576 (a) The department shall award grants to high-risk care
2577 providers serving rural communities to accomplish at least one
2578 of the following initiatives:
2579 1. Implement a blended learning training program for health
2580 care providers in stroke care protocols and best practices.
2581 2. Purchase simulation equipment and technology for
2582 training.
2583 3. Establish telehealth capabilities between prehospital
2584 providers, such as paramedics or emergency medical technicians,
2585 and in-hospital providers, such as neurologists, to expedite
2586 emergency stroke care, emergency cardiac care, or emergency
2587 obstetric care.
2588 4. Develop quality improvement programs in one or more of
2589 the following specialty areas: emergency stroke care, emergency
2590 cardiac care, or emergency obstetric care.
2591 (b) Priority must be given to proposals that:
2592 1. Demonstrate collaboration between prehospital and in
2593 hospital providers; or
2594 2. Show potential for significant improvement in patient
2595 outcomes in rural communities.
2596 (5) FUNDING LIMITS; REPORTING.—
2597 (a) Individual grants may not exceed $100,000 per year.
2598 (b) Grant recipients must submit quarterly reports to the
2599 department documenting program activities, expenditures, and
2600 outcomes.
2601 (6) ADMINISTRATION.—The department shall monitor program
2602 implementation and outcomes. The department shall submit an
2603 annual report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and
2604 the Speaker of the House of Representatives by December 1 of
2605 each year, detailing program implementation and outcomes.
2606 (7) RULEMAKING.—The department may adopt rules to implement
2607 this section.
2608 (8) IMPLEMENTATION.—This section may be implemented only to
2609 the extent specifically funded by legislative appropriation.
2610 (9) REPEAL.—This section is repealed July 1, 2030, unless
2611 reviewed and saved from repeal through reenactment by the
2612 Legislature.
2613 Section 37. Subsection (2) of section 395.6061, Florida
2614 Statutes, is amended to read:
2615 395.6061 Rural hospital capital improvement.—There is
2616 established a rural hospital capital improvement grant program.
2617 (2)(a) Each rural hospital as defined in s. 395.602 shall
2618 receive a minimum of $100,000 annually, subject to legislative
2619 appropriation, upon application to the Department of Health, for
2620 projects to acquire, repair, improve, or upgrade systems,
2621 facilities, or equipment. Such projects may include, but are not
2622 limited to, the following:
2623 1. Establishing mobile care units to provide primary care
2624 services, behavioral health services, or obstetric and
2625 gynecological services in rural health professional shortage
2626 areas.
2627 2. Establishing telehealth kiosks to provide urgent care
2628 and primary care services remotely in rural health professional
2629 shortage areas.
2630 (b) As used in this subsection, the term:
2631 1. “Preventive care” means routine health care services
2632 designed to prevent illness. The term includes, but is not
2633 limited to, general physical examinations provided on an annual
2634 basis, screenings for acute or chronic illnesses, and patient
2635 counseling to promote overall wellness and avoid the need for
2636 emergency services.
2637 2. “Primary care” means health care services focused
2638 primarily on preventive care, wellness care, and treatment for
2639 common illnesses. The term may include the health care provider
2640 serving as a patient’s entry point into the overall health care
2641 system and coordinating a patient’s care among specialists or
2642 acute care settings. The term does not include elective services
2643 provided solely for cosmetic purposes.
2644 3. “Rural health professional shortage area” means a rural
2645 community as defined in s. 288.0657 which is also designated as
2646 a health professional shortage area by the Health Resources and
2647 Services Administration of the United States Department of
2648 Health and Human Services.
2649 Section 38. Subsection (3) of section 420.9073, Florida
2650 Statutes, is amended to read:
2651 420.9073 Local housing distributions.—
2652 (3) Calculation of guaranteed amounts:
2653 (a) The guaranteed amount under subsection (1) shall be
2654 calculated for each state fiscal year by multiplying $1 million
2655 $350,000 by a fraction, the numerator of which is the amount of
2656 funds distributed to the Local Government Housing Trust Fund
2657 pursuant to s. 201.15(4)(c) and the denominator of which is the
2658 total amount of funds distributed to the Local Government
2659 Housing Trust Fund pursuant to s. 201.15.
2660 (b) The guaranteed amount under subsection (2) shall be
2661 calculated for each state fiscal year by multiplying $1 million
2662 $350,000 by a fraction, the numerator of which is the amount of
2663 funds distributed to the Local Government Housing Trust Fund
2664 pursuant to s. 201.15(4)(d) and the denominator of which is the
2665 total amount of funds distributed to the Local Government
2666 Housing Trust Fund pursuant to s. 201.15.
2667 Section 39. Paragraph (n) of subsection (5) of section
2668 420.9075, Florida Statutes, is amended, paragraph (o) is added
2669 to that subsection, and paragraph (b) of subsection (13) of that
2670 section is reenacted, to read:
2671 420.9075 Local housing assistance plans; partnerships.—
2672 (5) The following criteria apply to awards made to eligible
2673 sponsors or eligible persons for the purpose of providing
2674 eligible housing:
2675 (n) Funds from the local housing distribution not used to
2676 meet the criteria established in paragraph (a), or paragraph
2677 (c), or paragraph (o), or not used for the administration of a
2678 local housing assistance plan must be used for housing
2679 production and finance activities, including, but not limited
2680 to, financing preconstruction activities or the purchase of
2681 existing units, providing rental housing, and providing home
2682 ownership training to prospective home buyers and owners of
2683 homes assisted through the local housing assistance plan.
2684 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (a) and
2685 (c), program income as defined in s. 420.9071(26) may also be
2686 used to fund activities described in this paragraph.
2687 2. When preconstruction due-diligence activities conducted
2688 as part of a preservation strategy show that preservation of the
2689 units is not feasible and will not result in the production of
2690 an eligible unit, such costs shall be deemed a program expense
2691 rather than an administrative expense if such program expenses
2692 do not exceed 3 percent of the annual local housing
2693 distribution.
2694 3. If both an award under the local housing assistance plan
2695 and federal low-income housing tax credits are used to assist a
2696 project and there is a conflict between the criteria prescribed
2697 in this subsection and the requirements of s. 42 of the Internal
2698 Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, the county or eligible
2699 municipality may resolve the conflict by giving precedence to
2700 the requirements of s. 42 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
2701 as amended, in lieu of following the criteria prescribed in this
2702 subsection with the exception of paragraphs (a) and (g) of this
2703 subsection.
2704 4. Each county and each eligible municipality may award
2705 funds as a grant for construction, rehabilitation, or repair as
2706 part of disaster recovery or emergency repairs or to remedy
2707 accessibility or health and safety deficiencies. Any other
2708 grants must be approved as part of the local housing assistance
2709 plan.
2710 (o) Notwithstanding paragraphs (a) and (c), up to 25
2711 percent of the funds made available in each county and eligible
2712 municipality from the local housing distribution may be used to
2713 preserve multifamily affordable rental housing funded through
2714 United States Department of Agriculture loans. These funds may
2715 be used to rehabilitate housing, extend affordability periods,
2716 or acquire or transfer properties in partnership with private
2717 organizations. This paragraph expires on June 30, 2031.
2718 (13)
2719 (b) If, as a result of its review of the annual report, the
2720 corporation determines that a county or eligible municipality
2721 has failed to implement a local housing incentive strategy, or,
2722 if applicable, a local housing incentive plan, it shall send a
2723 notice of termination of the local government’s share of the
2724 local housing distribution by certified mail to the affected
2725 county or eligible municipality.
2726 1. The notice must specify a date of termination of the
2727 funding if the affected county or eligible municipality does not
2728 implement the plan or strategy and provide for a local response.
2729 A county or eligible municipality shall respond to the
2730 corporation within 30 days after receipt of the notice of
2731 termination.
2732 2. The corporation shall consider the local response that
2733 extenuating circumstances precluded implementation and grant an
2734 extension to the timeframe for implementation. Such an extension
2735 shall be made in the form of an extension agreement that
2736 provides a timeframe for implementation. The chief elected
2737 official of a county or eligible municipality or his or her
2738 designee shall have the authority to enter into the agreement on
2739 behalf of the local government.
2740 3. If the county or the eligible municipality has not
2741 implemented the incentive strategy or entered into an extension
2742 agreement by the termination date specified in the notice, the
2743 local housing distribution share terminates, and any uncommitted
2744 local housing distribution funds held by the affected county or
2745 eligible municipality in its local housing assistance trust fund
2746 shall be transferred to the Local Government Housing Trust Fund
2747 to the credit of the corporation to administer.
2748 4.a. If the affected local government fails to meet the
2749 timeframes specified in the agreement, the corporation shall
2750 terminate funds. The corporation shall send a notice of
2751 termination of the local government’s share of the local housing
2752 distribution by certified mail to the affected local government.
2753 The notice shall specify the termination date, and any
2754 uncommitted funds held by the affected local government shall be
2755 transferred to the Local Government Housing Trust Fund to the
2756 credit of the corporation to administer.
2757 b. If the corporation terminates funds to a county, but an
2758 eligible municipality receiving a local housing distribution
2759 pursuant to an interlocal agreement maintains compliance with
2760 program requirements, the corporation shall thereafter
2761 distribute directly to the participating eligible municipality
2762 its share calculated in the manner provided in ss. 420.9072 and
2763 420.9073.
2764 c. Any county or eligible municipality whose local
2765 distribution share has been terminated may subsequently elect to
2766 receive directly its local distribution share by adopting the
2767 ordinance, resolution, and local housing assistance plan in the
2768 manner and according to the procedures provided in ss. 420.907
2769 420.9079.
2770 Section 40. Subsections (1), (2), and (5) of section
2771 1001.451, Florida Statutes, are amended, and subsection (6) is
2772 added to that section, to read:
2773 1001.451 Regional consortium service organizations.—In
2774 order to provide a full range of programs to larger numbers of
2775 students, minimize duplication of services, and encourage the
2776 development of new programs and services:
2777 (1) School districts with 20,000 or fewer unweighted full
2778 time equivalent students, developmental research (laboratory)
2779 schools established pursuant to s. 1002.32, and the Florida
2780 School for the Deaf and the Blind may enter into cooperative
2781 agreements to form a regional consortium service organization.
2782 Each regional consortium service organization shall provide any
2783 of, at a minimum, three of the following services determined
2784 necessary and appropriate by the board of directors:
2785 (a) Exceptional student education;
2786 (b) Safe schools support teacher education centers;
2787 environmental education;
2788 (c) State and federal grant procurement and coordination;
2789 (d) Data services processing; health
2790 (e) Insurance services;
2791 (f) Risk management insurance;
2792 (g) Professional learning;
2793 (h) College, career, and workforce development;
2794 (i) Business and operational services staff development;
2795 (j) Purchasing; or
2796 (k) Planning and accountability.
2797 (2)(a) Each regional consortium service organization that
2798 consists of four or more school districts is eligible to
2799 receive, through the Department of Education, subject to the
2800 funds provided in the General Appropriations Act, an allocation
2801 incentive grant of $150,000 $50,000 per school district and
2802 eligible member to be used for the delivery of services within
2803 the participating school districts. The determination of
2804 services and use of such funds must shall be established by the
2805 board of directors of the regional consortium service
2806 organization. The funds must shall be distributed to each
2807 regional consortium service organization no later than 30 days
2808 following the release of the funds to the department. Each
2809 regional consortium service organization shall submit an annual
2810 report to the department regarding the use of funds for
2811 consortia services. Unexpended amounts in any fund in a
2812 consortium’s current year operating budget must be carried
2813 forward and included as the balance forward for that fund in the
2814 approved operating budget for the following year. Each regional
2815 consortium service organization shall provide quarterly
2816 financial reports to member districts.
2817 (b) Member districts shall designate a district that will
2818 serve as a fiscal agent for contractual and reporting purposes.
2819 Such fiscal agent district is entitled to reasonable
2820 compensation for accounting and other services performed. The
2821 regional consortium service organization shall retain all funds
2822 received from grants or contracted services to cover indirect or
2823 administrative costs associated with the provision of such
2824 services. The regional consortium service organization board of
2825 directors shall determine the products and services to be
2826 provided by the consortium; however, in all contractual matters,
2827 the school board of the fiscal agent district shall act on
2828 proposed actions of the regional consortium service
2829 organization.
2830 (c) The regional consortium service organization board of
2831 directors shall recommend establishment of positions and
2832 individuals for appointment to the fiscal agent district.
2833 Personnel must be employed under the personnel policies of the
2834 fiscal agent district and are deemed to be public employees of
2835 the fiscal agent district. The regional consortium service
2836 organization board of directors may recommend a salary schedule
2837 and job descriptions specific to its personnel.
2838 (d) The regional consortium service organization may
2839 purchase or lease property and facilities essential for its
2840 operations and is responsible for their maintenance and
2841 associated overhead costs.
2842 (e) If a regional consortium service organization is
2843 dissolved, any revenue from the sale of assets must be
2844 distributed among the member districts as determined by the
2845 board of directors Application for incentive grants shall be
2846 made to the Commissioner of Education by July 30 of each year
2847 for distribution to qualifying regional consortium service
2848 organizations by January 1 of the fiscal year.
2849 (5) The board of directors of a regional consortium service
2850 organization may use various means to generate revenue in
2851 support of its activities, including, but not limited to,
2852 contracting for services to nonmember districts. The board of
2853 directors may acquire, enjoy, use, and dispose of patents,
2854 copyrights, and trademarks and any licenses and associated other
2855 rights or interests thereunder or therein. Ownership of all such
2856 patents, copyrights, trademarks, licenses, and associated rights
2857 or interests thereunder or therein shall vest in the state, with
2858 the board of directors having full right of use and full right
2859 to retain associated the revenues derived therefrom. Any funds
2860 realized from contracted services, patents, copyrights,
2861 trademarks, or licenses are shall be considered internal funds
2862 as provided in s. 1011.07. A fund balance must be established
2863 for maintaining or expanding services, facilities maintenance,
2864 terminal pay, and other liabilities Such funds shall be used to
2865 support the organization’s marketing and research and
2866 development activities in order to improve and increase services
2867 to its member districts.
2868 (6) A regional consortium service organization is
2869 authorized to administer the Regional Consortia Service
2870 Organization Supplemental Services Program under s. 1001.4511.
2871 Section 41. Section 1001.4511, Florida Statutes, is created
2872 to read:
2873 1001.4511 Regional Consortia Service Organization
2874 Supplemental Services Program.—
2875 (1) There is created the Regional Consortia Service
2876 Organization Supplemental Services Program to increase the
2877 ability of regional consortium service organizations under s.
2878 1001.451 to provide programs and services to consortia members
2879 through cooperative agreements. Program funds may be used to
2880 supplement member needs related to transportation; district
2881 finance personnel services; property insurance, including
2882 property insurance obtained from any source; cybersecurity
2883 support; school safety; college, career, and workforce
2884 development; academic support; and behavior support within
2885 exceptional student education services.
2886 (2) Each regional consortium service organization shall
2887 annually report to the President of the Senate and the Speaker
2888 of the House of Representatives the distribution of funds,
2889 including members awarded and services provided.
2890 (3) Notwithstanding s. 216.301 and pursuant to s. 216.351,
2891 funds allocated for this purpose which are not disbursed by June
2892 30 of the fiscal year in which the funds are allocated may be
2893 carried forward for up to 5 years after the effective date of
2894 the original appropriation.
2895 Section 42. Section 1009.635, Florida Statutes, is created
2896 to read:
2897 1009.635 Rural Incentive for Professional Educators.—
2898 (1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Rural Incentive for Professional
2899 Educators (RIPE) Program is established within the Department of
2900 Education to support the recruitment and retention of qualified
2901 instructional personnel in rural communities. The program shall
2902 provide financial assistance for the repayment of student loans
2903 for eligible participants who establish permanent residency and
2904 employment in rural areas of opportunity.
2905 (2) ELIGIBILITY.—An individual is eligible to participate
2906 in the RIPE Program if he or she does all of the following:
2907 (a) Establishes permanent residency on or after July 1,
2908 2025, in a rural area of opportunity as designated pursuant to
2909 s. 288.0656. The address on an individual’s state-issued
2910 identification card or driver license is evidence of residence.
2911 (b) Secures full-time employment as a teacher or
2912 administrator in a private school as defined in s. 1002.01, or
2913 as instructional or administrative personnel as those terms are
2914 defined in s. 1012.01(2) and (3), respectively, in the public
2915 school district located within the same rural area of
2916 opportunity as he or she resides.
2917 (c) Holds an associate degree, bachelor’s degree,
2918 postgraduate degree, or certificate from an accredited
2919 institution earned before establishing residency.
2920 (d) Has an active student loan balance incurred for the
2921 completion of the qualifying degree or certificate.
2922 (3) LOAN REPAYMENT.—Eligible participants may receive up to
2923 $15,000 in total student loan repayment assistance over 5 years,
2924 disbursed in annual payments not to exceed $3,000 per year.
2925 Payments shall be made directly to the lender servicing the
2926 participant’s student loan.
2927 (4) AWARD DISTRIBUTION.—Before disbursement of an award,
2928 the department shall verify that the participant:
2929 (a) Has maintained continuous employment with the school
2930 district in an instructional or administrative position;
2931 (b) Has received a rating of effective or highly effective
2932 pursuant to s. 1012.34; and
2933 (c) Has not been placed on probation, had his or her
2934 certificate suspended or revoked, or been placed on the
2935 disqualification list, pursuant to s. 1012.796.
2936 (5) ADMINISTRATION.—The program shall be administered by
2937 the Office of Student Financial Assistance within the Department
2938 of Education, which shall:
2939 (a) Develop application procedures requiring documentation,
2940 including proof of residency, verification of employment,
2941 official academic transcripts, and details of outstanding
2942 student loans; and
2943 (b) Monitor compliance with program requirements.
2944 (6) RULEMAKING.—The State Board of Education shall adopt
2945 rules no later than January 31, 2026, to administer this
2946 section.
2947 Section 43. Subsection (3) of section 1013.62, Florida
2948 Statutes, is amended to read:
2949 1013.62 Charter schools capital outlay funding.—
2950 (3) If the school board levies the discretionary millage
2951 authorized in s. 1011.71(2), the department must shall use the
2952 following calculation methodology to determine the amount of
2953 revenue that a school district must distribute to each eligible
2954 charter school:
2955 (a) Reduce the total discretionary millage revenue by the
2956 school district’s annual debt service obligation incurred as of
2957 March 1, 2017, which has not been subsequently retired, and:
2958 1. Beginning in the 2025-2026 fiscal year, for any district
2959 with an active project or an outstanding participation
2960 requirement balance, any amount of participation requirement
2961 pursuant to s. 1013.64(2)(a)8. that is being satisfied by
2962 revenues raised by the discretionary millage; or
2963 2. For construction projects for which Special Facilities
2964 Construction Account funding is sought beginning in the 2025
2965 2026 fiscal year, the value of 1 mill from the revenue generated
2966 pursuant to s. 1013.64(2)(a)8.b.
2967 (b) Divide the school district’s adjusted discretionary
2968 millage revenue by the district’s total capital outlay full-time
2969 equivalent membership and the total number of full-time
2970 equivalent students of each eligible charter school to determine
2971 a capital outlay allocation per full-time equivalent student.
2972 (c) Multiply the capital outlay allocation per full-time
2973 equivalent student by the total number of full-time equivalent
2974 students of each eligible charter school to determine the
2975 capital outlay allocation for each charter school.
2976 (d) If applicable, reduce the capital outlay allocation
2977 identified in paragraph (c) by the total amount of state funds
2978 allocated to each eligible charter school in subsection (2) to
2979 determine the maximum calculated capital outlay allocation. The
2980 amount of funds a school district must distribute to charter
2981 schools shall be as follows:
2982 1. For fiscal year 2023-2024, the amount is 20 percent of
2983 the amount calculated under this paragraph.
2984 2. For fiscal year 2024-2025, the amount is 40 percent of
2985 the amount calculated under this paragraph.
2986 3. For fiscal year 2025-2026, the amount is 60 percent of
2987 the amount calculated under this paragraph.
2988 4. For fiscal year 2026-2027, the amount is 80 percent of
2989 the amount calculated under this paragraph.
2990 5. For fiscal year 2027-2028, and each fiscal year
2991 thereafter, the amount is 100 percent of the amount calculated
2992 under this paragraph.
2993 (e) School districts shall distribute capital outlay funds
2994 to eligible charter schools no later than February 1 of each
2995 year, as required by this subsection, based on the amount of
2996 funds received by the district school board. School districts
2997 shall distribute any remaining capital outlay funds, as required
2998 by this subsection, upon the receipt of such funds until the
2999 total amount calculated pursuant to this subsection is
3000 distributed.
3001
3002 By October 1 of each year, each school district shall certify to
3003 the department the amount of debt service that and participation
3004 requirement that complies with the requirement of paragraph (a)
3005 and can be reduced from the total discretionary millage revenue.
3006 Each school district shall also certify the amount of the
3007 participation requirement that complies with paragraph (a), or
3008 certify the value of 1 mill from revenue generated pursuant to
3009 s. 1013.64(2)(a)8.b. that can be reduced from the total
3010 discretionary millage revenue, as applicable. The Auditor
3011 General shall verify compliance with the requirements of
3012 paragraph (a) and s. 1011.71(2)(e) during scheduled operational
3013 audits of school districts.
3014 Section 44. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
3015 1013.64, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
3016 1013.64 Funds for comprehensive educational plant needs;
3017 construction cost maximums for school district capital
3018 projects.—Allocations from the Public Education Capital Outlay
3019 and Debt Service Trust Fund to the various boards for capital
3020 outlay projects shall be determined as follows:
3021 (2)(a) The department shall establish, as a part of the
3022 Public Education Capital Outlay and Debt Service Trust Fund, a
3023 separate account, in an amount determined by the Legislature, to
3024 be known as the “Special Facility Construction Account.” The
3025 Special Facility Construction Account shall be used to provide
3026 necessary construction funds to school districts which have
3027 urgent construction needs but which lack sufficient resources at
3028 present, and cannot reasonably anticipate sufficient resources
3029 within the period of the next 3 years, for these purposes from
3030 currently authorized sources of capital outlay revenue. A school
3031 district requesting funding from the Special Facility
3032 Construction Account shall submit one specific construction
3033 project, not to exceed one complete educational plant, to the
3034 Special Facility Construction Committee. A district may not
3035 receive funding for more than one approved project in any 3-year
3036 period or while any portion of the district’s participation
3037 requirement is outstanding. The first year of the 3-year period
3038 shall be the first year a district receives an appropriation.
3039 The department shall encourage a construction program that
3040 reduces the average size of schools in the district. The request
3041 must meet the following criteria to be considered by the
3042 committee:
3043 1. The project must be deemed a critical need and must be
3044 recommended for funding by the Special Facility Construction
3045 Committee. Before developing construction plans for the proposed
3046 facility, the district school board must request a
3047 preapplication review by the Special Facility Construction
3048 Committee or a project review subcommittee convened by the chair
3049 of the committee to include two representatives of the
3050 department and two staff members from school districts not
3051 eligible to participate in the program. A school district may
3052 request a preapplication review at any time; however, if the
3053 district school board seeks inclusion in the department’s next
3054 annual capital outlay legislative budget request, the
3055 preapplication review request must be made before February 1.
3056 Within 90 days after receiving the preapplication review
3057 request, the committee or subcommittee must meet in the school
3058 district to review the project proposal and existing facilities.
3059 To determine whether the proposed project is a critical need,
3060 the committee or subcommittee shall consider, at a minimum, the
3061 capacity of all existing facilities within the district as
3062 determined by the Florida Inventory of School Houses; the
3063 district’s pattern of student growth; the district’s existing
3064 and projected capital outlay full-time equivalent student
3065 enrollment as determined by the demographic, revenue, and
3066 education estimating conferences established in s. 216.136; the
3067 district’s existing satisfactory student stations; the use of
3068 all existing district property and facilities; grade level
3069 configurations; and any other information that may affect the
3070 need for the proposed project.
3071 2. The construction project must be recommended in the most
3072 recent survey or survey amendment cooperatively prepared by the
3073 district and the department, and approved by the department
3074 under the rules of the State Board of Education. If a district
3075 employs a consultant in the preparation of a survey or survey
3076 amendment, the consultant may not be employed by or receive
3077 compensation from a third party that designs or constructs a
3078 project recommended by the survey.
3079 3. The construction project must appear on the district’s
3080 approved project priority list under the rules of the State
3081 Board of Education.
3082 4. The district must have selected and had approved a site
3083 for the construction project in compliance with s. 1013.36 and
3084 the rules of the State Board of Education.
3085 5. The district shall have developed a district school
3086 board adopted list of facilities that do not exceed the norm for
3087 net square feet occupancy requirements under the State
3088 Requirements for Educational Facilities, using all possible
3089 programmatic combinations for multiple use of space to obtain
3090 maximum daily use of all spaces within the facility under
3091 consideration.
3092 6. Upon construction, the total cost per student station,
3093 including change orders, must not exceed the cost per student
3094 station as provided in subsection (6) unless approved by the
3095 Special Facility Construction Committee. At the discretion of
3096 the committee, costs that exceed the cost per student station
3097 for special facilities may include legal and administrative
3098 fees, the cost of site improvements or related offsite
3099 improvements, the cost of complying with public shelter and
3100 hurricane hardening requirements, cost overruns created by a
3101 disaster as defined in s. 252.34(2), costs of security
3102 enhancements approved by the school safety specialist, and
3103 unforeseeable circumstances beyond the district’s control.
3104 7. There shall be an agreement signed by the district
3105 school board stating that it will advertise for bids within 30
3106 days of receipt of its encumbrance authorization from the
3107 department.
3108 8.a.(I) For construction projects for which Special
3109 Facilities Construction Account funding is sought before the
3110 2019-2020 fiscal year, the district shall, at the time of the
3111 request and for a continuing period necessary to meet the
3112 district’s participation requirement, levy the maximum millage
3113 against its nonexempt assessed property value as allowed in s.
3114 1011.71(2) or shall raise an equivalent amount of revenue from
3115 the school capital outlay surtax authorized under s. 212.055(6).
3116 (II) Beginning with construction projects for which Special
3117 Facilities Construction Account funding is sought in the 2019
3118 2020 fiscal year, the district shall, for a minimum of 3 years
3119 before submitting the request and for a continuing period
3120 necessary to meet its participation requirement, levy the
3121 maximum millage against the district’s nonexempt assessed
3122 property value as authorized under s. 1011.71(2) or shall raise
3123 an equivalent amount of revenue from the school capital outlay
3124 surtax authorized under s. 212.055(6).
3125 (III) Beginning with the 2025-2026 fiscal year, any
3126 district with an a new or active project or an outstanding
3127 participation requirement balance, funded under the provisions
3128 of this subsection, shall be required to budget no more than the
3129 value of 1 mill per year to the project until the district’s
3130 participation requirement relating to the local discretionary
3131 capital improvement millage or the equivalent amount of revenue
3132 from the school capital outlay surtax is satisfied.
3133 b. For construction projects for which Special Facilities
3134 Construction Account funding is sought beginning in the 2025
3135 2026 fiscal year, the district shall, for a minimum of 3 years
3136 before submitting the request and for the initial year of the
3137 appropriation and the 2 years following the initial
3138 appropriation, levy the maximum millage against the district’s
3139 nonexempt assessed property value as authorized under s.
3140 1011.71(2) or shall raise an equivalent amount of revenue from
3141 the school capital outlay surtax authorized under s. 212.055(6).
3142 The district is not required to budget the funds toward the
3143 project, but must use the funds as authorized pursuant to s.
3144 1011.71 or s. 212.055(6), as applicable.
3145 9. If a contract has not been signed 90 days after the
3146 advertising of bids, the funding for the specific project must
3147 shall revert to the Special Facility New Construction Account to
3148 be reallocated to other projects on the list. However, an
3149 additional 90 days may be granted by the commissioner.
3150 10. The department shall certify the inability of the
3151 district to fund the survey-recommended project over a
3152 continuous 3-year period using projected capital outlay revenue
3153 derived from s. 9(d), Art. XII of the State Constitution, as
3154 amended, paragraph (3)(a) of this section, and s. 1011.71(2).
3155 11.a. For projects funded before the 2025-2026 fiscal year,
3156 the district shall have on file with the department an adopted
3157 resolution acknowledging its commitment to satisfy its
3158 participation requirement, which is equivalent to all
3159 unencumbered and future revenue acquired from s. 9(d), Art. XII
3160 of the State Constitution, as amended, paragraph (3)(a) of this
3161 section, and s. 1011.71(2), in the year of the initial
3162 appropriation and for the 2 years immediately following the
3163 initial appropriation.
3164 b. For projects funded during the 2025-2026 fiscal year,
3165 and thereafter, the district shall have on file with the
3166 department an adopted resolution acknowledging its commitment to
3167 comply with the requirements of this paragraph.
3168 12. Phase I plans must be approved by the district school
3169 board as being in compliance with the building and life safety
3170 codes before June 1 of the year the application is made.
3171 Section 45. For the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the sum of $1
3172 million in recurring funds from the General Revenue Fund is
3173 appropriated to the Florida Small Business Development Center
3174 Network under s. 288.001, Florida Statutes, to expand services
3175 in rural communities. The funds shall be allocated to the Office
3176 of Rural Prosperity budget entity within the Department of
3177 Commerce in the Special Categories–SBDCN Rural Services specific
3178 appropriation category.
3179 Section 46. (1) For the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the sums of
3180 $1,827,591 in recurring funds and $652,327 in nonrecurring funds
3181 are appropriated from the General Revenue Fund to the Department
3182 of Commerce.
3183 (2) The recurring general revenue funds shall be allocated
3184 to the Office of Rural Prosperity budget entity in the following
3185 specific appropriations categories: $1,585,823 in Salaries and
3186 Benefits, $175,961 in Expenses, $50,000 in Contracted Services,
3187 $10,000 in Operating Capital Outlay, and $5,807 in Transfer to
3188 the Department of Management Services/Statewide Human Resources
3189 Contract.
3190 (3) The nonrecurring general revenue funds shall be
3191 allocated to the Office of Rural Prosperity budget entity in the
3192 following specific appropriations categories: $92,327 in
3193 Expenses and $560,000 in Acquisition of Motor Vehicles.
3194 (4) The Department of Commerce is authorized to establish
3195 17.00 full-time equivalent positions with associated salary rate
3196 of 1,060,000 in the Office of Rural Prosperity for the purpose
3197 of implementing this act. The following specific positions,
3198 classifications, and pay plans are authorized: 1.00 Director of
3199 General Operation, Class Code 9327, Pay Grade 940; 15.00
3200 Government Analyst II, Class Code 2225, Pay Grade 026; and 1.00
3201 Administrative Assistant II, Class Code 0712, Pay Grade 018.
3202 Section 47. For the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the recurring
3203 sum of $8 million from the General Revenue Fund is appropriated
3204 to the Office of Rural Prosperity within the Department of
3205 Commerce to implement the Renaissance Grants Program created by
3206 s. 288.014, Florida Statutes. No funds may be used by the state
3207 for administrative costs.
3208 Section 48. For the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the recurring
3209 sum of $500,000 from the Grants and Donations Trust Fund within
3210 the Department of Commerce is appropriated to the Office of
3211 Rural Prosperity within the Department of Commerce to implement
3212 the Public Infrastructure Smart Technology Grant Program created
3213 by s. 288.0175, Florida Statutes.
3214 Section 49. For the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the sums of $4
3215 million in nonrecurring funds and $1 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 Community Development Revolving Loan Fund under s.
3219 288.065, Florida Statutes, as amended by this act.
3220 Section 50. For the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the sums of $40
3221 million in nonrecurring funds and $5 million in recurring funds
3222 from the General Revenue Fund are appropriated to the Office of
3223 Rural Prosperity within the Department of Commerce to implement
3224 the Rural Infrastructure Fund under s. 288.0655, Florida
3225 Statutes, as amended by this act.
3226 Section 51. For the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the sum of
3227 $250,000 in recurring funds from the Grants and Donations Trust
3228 Fund within the Department of Commerce is appropriated to the
3229 Office of Rural Prosperity within the Department of Commerce to
3230 implement s. 288.0657, Florida Statutes, as amended by this act.
3231 Section 52. For the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the sum of $30
3232 million in nonrecurring funds from the General Revenue Fund is
3233 appropriated to the Florida Housing Finance Corporation to be
3234 used to preserve affordable multifamily rental housing in rural
3235 communities funded through United States Department of
3236 Agriculture loans. The funds provided in this appropriation
3237 shall be used to issue competitive requests for application for
3238 the rehabilitation or acquisition of such properties to ensure
3239 continued affordability. By October 1, 2026, the Florida Housing
3240 Finance Corporation shall submit a report to the President of
3241 the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives on
3242 projects funded pursuant to this section, which report must
3243 include the number of units preserved and the financing
3244 portfolio for each project.
3245 Section 53. For the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the sum of $25
3246 million in nonrecurring funds from the General Revenue Fund is
3247 appropriated to the Department of Health for the purpose of
3248 implementing the Rural Access to Primary and Preventive Care
3249 Grant Program created under s. 381.403, Florida Statutes. Grant
3250 funds shall be awarded over a 5-year period. Notwithstanding s.
3251 216.301, Florida Statutes, and pursuant to s. 216.351, Florida
3252 Statutes, the unexpended balance of funds appropriated pursuant
3253 to this section which is not disbursed by June 30 of the fiscal
3254 year in which funds are appropriated may be carried forward
3255 through the 2033-2034 fiscal year.
3256 Section 54. For the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the sum of $5
3257 million in nonrecurring funds from the General Revenue Fund is
3258 appropriated to the Department of Health for the purpose of
3259 implementing the Stroke, Cardiac, and Obstetric Response and
3260 Education Grant Program under s. 381.9856, Florida Statutes.
3261 Notwithstanding s. 216.301, Florida Statutes, and pursuant to s.
3262 216.351, Florida Statutes, the unexpended balance of funds
3263 appropriated pursuant to this section which is not disbursed by
3264 June 30 of the fiscal year in which funds are appropriated may
3265 be carried forward through the 2029-2030 fiscal year.
3266 Section 55. For the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the sum of $25
3267 million in nonrecurring funds from the General Revenue Fund is
3268 appropriated in fixed capital outlay to the Department of Health
3269 for the purpose of implementing the rural hospital capital
3270 improvement grant program under s. 395.6061, Florida Statutes.
3271 Section 56. For the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the sums of
3272 $187,255 in recurring funds from the General Revenue Fund and
3273 $250,358 in recurring funds from the Medical Care Trust Fund are
3274 appropriated to the Agency for Health Care Administration to
3275 establish a Diagnosis-Related Grouping (DRG) reimbursement
3276 methodology for critical access hospitals, as defined in s.
3277 408.07, Florida Statutes, for the purpose of providing inpatient
3278 reimbursement to such a hospital in amounts comparable to the
3279 reimbursement the hospital would receive for inpatient services
3280 from the federal Medicare program. The 2025-2026 fiscal year
3281 General Appropriations Act shall establish the DRG reimbursement
3282 methodology for critical access hospital inpatient services as
3283 directed in s. 409.905(5)(c), Florida Statutes. Health plans
3284 that participate in the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care program
3285 shall pass through the fee increase to providers in this
3286 appropriation.
3287 Section 57. For the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the sums of
3288 $7,508,124 in recurring funds from the General Revenue Fund and
3289 $10,038,322 in recurring funds from the Medical Care Trust Fund
3290 are appropriated to the Agency for Health Care Administration to
3291 establish an Enhanced Ambulatory Patient Grouping (EAPG)
3292 reimbursement methodology for critical access hospitals, as
3293 defined in s. 408.07, Florida Statutes, for the purpose of
3294 providing outpatient reimbursement to such a hospital in amounts
3295 comparable to the reimbursement the hospital would receive for
3296 outpatient services from the federal Medicare program. The 2025
3297 2026 fiscal year General Appropriations Act shall establish the
3298 EAPG reimbursement methodology for critical access hospital
3299 outpatient services as directed in s. 409.905(6)(b), Florida
3300 Statutes. Health plans that participate in the Statewide
3301 Medicaid Managed Care program shall pass through the fee
3302 increase to providers in this appropriation.
3303 Section 58. For the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the sum of $3.6
3304 million in recurring funds from the General Revenue Fund is
3305 appropriated to the Department of Education to implement s.
3306 1001.451, Florida Statutes, as amended by this act.
3307 Section 59. For the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the sum of $25
3308 million in recurring funds is appropriated from the General
3309 Revenue Fund to the Department of Education to be distributed to
3310 regional consortium service organizations under s. 1001.451,
3311 Florida Statutes, in order to provide funds pursuant to s.
3312 1001.4511, Florida Statutes. These funds shall be allocated as
3313 follows: $5,555,149 to the Heartland Educational Consortium;
3314 $11,912,923 to the North East Florida Educational Consortium;
3315 and $7,531,928 to the Panhandle Area Educational Consortium. The
3316 funds must be distributed to each regional consortium service
3317 organization no later than 30 days following the release of the
3318 funds to the department.
3319 Section 60. For the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the sum of $7
3320 million in recurring funds from the General Revenue Fund is
3321 appropriated to the Department of Education to implement the
3322 Rural Incentive for Professional Educators (RIPE) Program, s.
3323 1009.635, Florida Statutes, as created by this act.
3324 Section 61. Subsection (3) of section 163.3187, Florida
3325 Statutes, is amended to read:
3326 163.3187 Process for adoption of small scale comprehensive
3327 plan amendment.—
3328 (3) If the small scale development amendment involves a
3329 site within a rural area of opportunity as defined under s.
3330 288.0656 s. 288.0656(2)(d) for the duration of such designation,
3331 the acreage limit listed in subsection (1) shall be increased by
3332 100 percent. The local government approving the small scale plan
3333 amendment shall certify to the state land planning agency that
3334 the plan amendment furthers the economic objectives set forth in
3335 the executive order issued under s. 288.0656(7), and the
3336 property subject to the plan amendment shall undergo public
3337 review to ensure that all concurrency requirements and federal,
3338 state, and local environmental permit requirements are met.
3339 Section 62. Section 212.205, Florida Statutes, is amended
3340 to read:
3341 212.205 Sales tax distribution reporting.—By March 15 of
3342 each year, each person who received a distribution pursuant to
3343 s. 212.20(6)(d)7.b. and c. s. 212.20(6)(d)6.b. and c. in the
3344 preceding calendar year shall report to the Office of Economic
3345 and Demographic Research the following information:
3346 (1) An itemized accounting of all expenditures of the funds
3347 distributed in the preceding calendar year, including amounts
3348 spent on debt service.
3349 (2) A statement indicating what portion of the distributed
3350 funds have been pledged for debt service.
3351 (3) The original principal amount and current debt service
3352 schedule of any bonds or other borrowing for which the
3353 distributed funds have been pledged for debt service.
3354 Section 63. Section 257.191, Florida Statutes, is amended
3355 to read:
3356 257.191 Construction grants.—The Division of Library and
3357 Information Services may accept and administer library
3358 construction moneys appropriated to it and shall allocate such
3359 appropriation to municipal, county, and regional libraries in
3360 the form of library construction grants on a matching basis. The
3361 local matching portion shall be no less than the grant amount,
3362 on a dollar-for-dollar basis, up to the maximum grant amount,
3363 unless the matching requirement is waived pursuant to s. 288.019
3364 by s. 288.06561. Initiation of a library construction project 12
3365 months or less prior to the grant award under this section does
3366 shall not affect the eligibility of an applicant to receive a
3367 library construction grant. The division shall adopt rules for
3368 the administration of library construction grants. For the
3369 purposes of this section, s. 257.21 does not apply.
3370 Section 64. Subsection (2) of section 257.193, Florida
3371 Statutes, is amended to read:
3372 257.193 Community Libraries in Caring Program.—
3373 (2) The purpose of the Community Libraries in Caring
3374 Program is to assist libraries in rural communities, as defined
3375 in s. 288.0656(2) and subject to the provisions of s. 288.019 s.
3376 288.06561, to strengthen their collections and services, improve
3377 literacy in their communities, and improve the economic
3378 viability of their communities.
3379 Section 65. Subsection (17) of section 265.283, Florida
3380 Statutes, is amended to read:
3381 265.283 Definitions.—The following definitions shall apply
3382 to ss. 265.281-265.703:
3383 (17) “Underserved arts community assistance program grants”
3384 means grants used by qualified organizations under the Rural
3385 Economic Development Initiative, pursuant to s. 288.0656 and
3386 subject to the provisions of s. 288.019 ss. 288.0656 and
3387 288.06561, for the purpose of economic and organizational
3388 development for underserved cultural organizations.
3389 Section 66. Paragraphs (a) and (d) of subsection (3) of
3390 section 288.11621, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
3391 288.11621 Spring training baseball franchises.—
3392 (3) USE OF FUNDS.—
3393 (a) A certified applicant may use funds provided under s.
3394 212.20(6)(d)7.b. s. 212.20(6)(d)6.b. only to:
3395 1. Serve the public purpose of acquiring, constructing,
3396 reconstructing, or renovating a facility for a spring training
3397 franchise.
3398 2. Pay or pledge for the payment of debt service on, or to
3399 fund debt service reserve funds, arbitrage rebate obligations,
3400 or other amounts payable with respect thereto, bonds issued for
3401 the acquisition, construction, reconstruction, or renovation of
3402 such facility, or for the reimbursement of such costs or the
3403 refinancing of bonds issued for such purposes.
3404 3. Assist in the relocation of a spring training franchise
3405 from one unit of local government to another only if the
3406 governing board of the current host local government by a
3407 majority vote agrees to relocation.
3408 (d)1. All certified applicants must place unexpended state
3409 funds received pursuant to s. 212.20(6)(d)7.b. s.
3410 212.20(6)(d)6.b. in a trust fund or separate account for use
3411 only as authorized in this section.
3412 2. A certified applicant may request that the Department of
3413 Revenue suspend further distributions of state funds made
3414 available under s. 212.20(6)(d)7.b. s. 212.20(6)(d)6.b. for 12
3415 months after expiration of an existing agreement with a spring
3416 training franchise to provide the certified applicant with an
3417 opportunity to enter into a new agreement with a spring training
3418 franchise, at which time the distributions shall resume.
3419 3. The expenditure of state funds distributed to an
3420 applicant certified before July 1, 2010, must begin within 48
3421 months after the initial receipt of the state funds. In
3422 addition, the construction of, or capital improvements to, a
3423 spring training facility must be completed within 24 months
3424 after the project’s commencement.
3425 Section 67. Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) and paragraphs
3426 (a), (c), and (d) of subsection (3) of section 288.11631,
3427 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
3428 288.11631 Retention of Major League Baseball spring
3429 training baseball franchises.—
3430 (2) CERTIFICATION PROCESS.—
3431 (c) Each applicant certified on or after July 1, 2013,
3432 shall enter into an agreement with the department which:
3433 1. Specifies the amount of the state incentive funding to
3434 be distributed. The amount of state incentive funding per
3435 certified applicant may not exceed $20 million. However, if a
3436 certified applicant’s facility is used by more than one spring
3437 training franchise, the maximum amount may not exceed $50
3438 million, and the Department of Revenue shall make distributions
3439 to the applicant pursuant to s. 212.20(6)(d)7.c. s.
3440 212.20(6)(d)6.c.
3441 2. States the criteria that the certified applicant must
3442 meet in order to remain certified. These criteria must include a
3443 provision stating that the spring training franchise must
3444 reimburse the state for any funds received if the franchise does
3445 not comply with the terms of the contract. If bonds were issued
3446 to construct or renovate a facility for a spring training
3447 franchise, the required reimbursement must be equal to the total
3448 amount of state distributions expected to be paid from the date
3449 the franchise violates the agreement with the applicant through
3450 the final maturity of the bonds.
3451 3. States that the certified applicant is subject to
3452 decertification if the certified applicant fails to comply with
3453 this section or the agreement.
3454 4. States that the department may recover state incentive
3455 funds if the certified applicant is decertified.
3456 5. Specifies the information that the certified applicant
3457 must report to the department.
3458 6. Includes any provision deemed prudent by the department.
3459 (3) USE OF FUNDS.—
3460 (a) A certified applicant may use funds provided under s.
3461 212.20(6)(d)7.c. s. 212.20(6)(d)6.c. only to:
3462 1. Serve the public purpose of constructing or renovating a
3463 facility for a spring training franchise.
3464 2. Pay or pledge for the payment of debt service on, or to
3465 fund debt service reserve funds, arbitrage rebate obligations,
3466 or other amounts payable with respect thereto, bonds issued for
3467 the construction or renovation of such facility, or for the
3468 reimbursement of such costs or the refinancing of bonds issued
3469 for such purposes.
3470 (c) The Department of Revenue may not distribute funds
3471 under s. 212.20(6)(d)7.c. s. 212.20(6)(d)6.c. until July 1,
3472 2016. Further, the Department of Revenue may not distribute
3473 funds to an applicant certified on or after July 1, 2013, until
3474 it receives notice from the department that:
3475 1. The certified applicant has encumbered funds under
3476 either subparagraph (a)1. or subparagraph (a)2.; and
3477 2. If applicable, any existing agreement with a spring
3478 training franchise for the use of a facility has expired.
3479 (d)1. All certified applicants shall place unexpended state
3480 funds received pursuant to s. 212.20(6)(d)7.c. s.
3481 212.20(6)(d)6.c. in a trust fund or separate account for use
3482 only as authorized in this section.
3483 2. A certified applicant may request that the department
3484 notify the Department of Revenue to suspend further
3485 distributions of state funds made available under s.
3486 212.20(6)(d)7.c. s. 212.20(6)(d)6.c. for 12 months after
3487 expiration of an existing agreement with a spring training
3488 franchise to provide the certified applicant with an opportunity
3489 to enter into a new agreement with a spring training franchise,
3490 at which time the distributions shall resume.
3491 3. The expenditure of state funds distributed to an
3492 applicant certified after July 1, 2013, must begin within 48
3493 months after the initial receipt of the state funds. In
3494 addition, the construction or renovation of a spring training
3495 facility must be completed within 24 months after the project’s
3496 commencement.
3497 Section 68. Subsection (1) of section 443.191, Florida
3498 Statutes, is amended to read:
3499 443.191 Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund; establishment
3500 and control.—
3501 (1) There is established, as a separate trust fund apart
3502 from all other public funds of this state, an Unemployment
3503 Compensation Trust Fund, which shall be administered by the
3504 Department of Commerce exclusively for the purposes of this
3505 chapter. The fund must consist of:
3506 (a) All contributions and reimbursements collected under
3507 this chapter;
3508 (b) Interest earned on any moneys in the fund;
3509 (c) Any property or securities acquired through the use of
3510 moneys belonging to the fund;
3511 (d) All earnings of these properties or securities;
3512 (e) All money credited to this state’s account in the
3513 federal Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund under 42 U.S.C. s.
3514 1103;
3515 (f) All money collected for penalties imposed pursuant to
3516 s. 443.151(6)(a);
3517 (g) Advances on the amount in the federal Unemployment
3518 Compensation Trust Fund credited to the state under 42 U.S.C. s.
3519 1321, as requested by the Governor or the Governor’s designee;
3520 and
3521 (h) All money deposited in this account as a distribution
3522 pursuant to s. 212.20(6)(d)7.e. s. 212.20(6)(d)6.e.
3523
3524 Except as otherwise provided in s. 443.1313(4), all moneys in
3525 the fund must be mingled and undivided.
3526 Section 69. Section 571.26, Florida Statutes, is amended to
3527 read:
3528 571.26 Florida Agricultural Promotional Campaign Trust
3529 Fund.—There is hereby created the Florida Agricultural
3530 Promotional Campaign Trust Fund within the Department of
3531 Agriculture and Consumer Services to receive all moneys related
3532 to the Florida Agricultural Promotional Campaign. Moneys
3533 deposited in the trust fund shall be appropriated for the sole
3534 purpose of implementing the Florida Agricultural Promotional
3535 Campaign, except for money deposited in the trust fund pursuant
3536 to s. 212.20(6)(d)7.h. s. 212.20(6)(d)6.h., which shall be held
3537 separately and used solely for the purposes identified in s.
3538 571.265.
3539 Section 70. Subsection (2) of section 571.265, Florida
3540 Statutes, is amended to read:
3541 571.265 Promotion of Florida thoroughbred breeding and of
3542 thoroughbred racing at Florida thoroughbred tracks; distribution
3543 of funds.—
3544 (2) Funds deposited into the Florida Agricultural
3545 Promotional Campaign Trust Fund pursuant to s. 212.20(6)(d)7.f.
3546 s. 212.20(6)(d)6.f. shall be used by the department to encourage
3547 the agricultural activity of breeding thoroughbred racehorses in
3548 this state and to enhance thoroughbred racing conducted at
3549 thoroughbred tracks in this state as provided in this section.
3550 If the funds made available under this section are not fully
3551 used in any one fiscal year, any unused amounts shall be carried
3552 forward in the trust fund into future fiscal years and made
3553 available for distribution as provided in this section.
3554 Section 71. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3555 made by this act to section 20.60, Florida Statutes, in a
3556 reference thereto, subsection (8) of section 288.9935, Florida
3557 Statutes, is reenacted to read:
3558 288.9935 Microfinance Guarantee Program.—
3559 (8) The department must, in the department’s report
3560 required under s. 20.60(10), include an annual report on the
3561 program. The report must, at a minimum, provide:
3562 (a) A comprehensive description of the program, including
3563 an evaluation of its application and guarantee activities,
3564 recommendations for change, and identification of any other
3565 state programs that overlap with the program;
3566 (b) An assessment of the current availability of and access
3567 to credit for entrepreneurs and small businesses in this state;
3568 (c) A summary of the financial and employment results of
3569 the entrepreneurs and small businesses receiving loan
3570 guarantees, including the number of full-time equivalent jobs
3571 created as a result of the guaranteed loans and the amount of
3572 wages paid to employees in the newly created jobs;
3573 (d) Industry data about the borrowers, including the six
3574 digit North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)
3575 code;
3576 (e) The name and location of lenders that receive loan
3577 guarantees;
3578 (f) The number of loan guarantee applications received;
3579 (g) The number, duration, location, and amount of
3580 guarantees made;
3581 (h) The number and amount of guaranteed loans outstanding,
3582 if any;
3583 (i) The number and amount of guaranteed loans with payments
3584 overdue, if any;
3585 (j) The number and amount of guaranteed loans in default,
3586 if any;
3587 (k) The repayment history of the guaranteed loans made; and
3588 (l) An evaluation of the program’s ability to meet the
3589 financial performance measures and objectives specified in
3590 subsection (3).
3591 Section 72. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3592 made by this act to section 218.67, Florida Statutes, in a
3593 reference thereto, paragraph (c) of subsection (5) of section
3594 125.0104, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
3595 125.0104 Tourist development tax; procedure for levying;
3596 authorized uses; referendum; enforcement.—
3597 (5) AUTHORIZED USES OF REVENUE.—
3598 (c) A county located adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico or the
3599 Atlantic Ocean, except a county that receives revenue from taxes
3600 levied pursuant to s. 125.0108, which meets the following
3601 criteria may use up to 10 percent of the tax revenue received
3602 pursuant to this section to reimburse expenses incurred in
3603 providing public safety services, including emergency medical
3604 services as defined in s. 401.107(3), and law enforcement
3605 services, which are needed to address impacts related to
3606 increased tourism and visitors to an area. However, if taxes
3607 collected pursuant to this section are used to reimburse
3608 emergency medical services or public safety services for tourism
3609 or special events, the governing board of a county or
3610 municipality may not use such taxes to supplant the normal
3611 operating expenses of an emergency medical services department,
3612 a fire department, a sheriff’s office, or a police department.
3613 To receive reimbursement, the county must:
3614 1.a. Generate a minimum of $10 million in annual proceeds
3615 from any tax, or any combination of taxes, authorized to be
3616 levied pursuant to this section;
3617 b. Have at least three municipalities; and
3618 c. Have an estimated population of less than 275,000,
3619 according to the most recent population estimate prepared
3620 pursuant to s. 186.901, excluding the inmate population; or
3621 2. Be a fiscally constrained county as described in s.
3622 218.67(1).
3623
3624 The board of county commissioners must by majority vote approve
3625 reimbursement made pursuant to this paragraph upon receipt of a
3626 recommendation from the tourist development council.
3627 Section 73. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3628 made by this act to section 218.67, Florida Statutes, in a
3629 reference thereto, subsection (3) of section 193.624, Florida
3630 Statutes, is reenacted to read:
3631 193.624 Assessment of renewable energy source devices.—
3632 (3) This section applies to the installation of a renewable
3633 energy source device installed on or after January 1, 2013, to
3634 new and existing residential real property. This section applies
3635 to a renewable energy source device installed on or after
3636 January 1, 2018, to all other real property, except when
3637 installed as part of a project planned for a location in a
3638 fiscally constrained county, as defined in s. 218.67(1), and for
3639 which an application for a comprehensive plan amendment or
3640 planned unit development zoning has been filed with the county
3641 on or before December 31, 2017.
3642 Section 74. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3643 made by this act to section 218.67, Florida Statutes, in a
3644 reference thereto, subsection (2) of section 196.182, Florida
3645 Statutes, is reenacted to read:
3646 196.182 Exemption of renewable energy source devices.—
3647 (2) The exemption provided in this section does not apply
3648 to a renewable energy source device that is installed as part of
3649 a project planned for a location in a fiscally constrained
3650 county, as defined in s. 218.67(1), and for which an application
3651 for a comprehensive plan amendment or planned unit development
3652 zoning has been filed with the county on or before December 31,
3653 2017.
3654 Section 75. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3655 made by this act to section 218.67, Florida Statutes, in a
3656 reference thereto, subsection (1) of section 218.12, Florida
3657 Statutes, is reenacted to read:
3658 218.12 Appropriations to offset reductions in ad valorem
3659 tax revenue in fiscally constrained counties.—
3660 (1) Beginning in fiscal year 2008-2009, the Legislature
3661 shall appropriate moneys to offset the reductions in ad valorem
3662 tax revenue experienced by fiscally constrained counties, as
3663 defined in s. 218.67(1), which occur as a direct result of the
3664 implementation of revisions of Art. VII of the State
3665 Constitution approved in the special election held on January
3666 29, 2008. The moneys appropriated for this purpose shall be
3667 distributed in January of each fiscal year among the fiscally
3668 constrained counties based on each county’s proportion of the
3669 total reduction in ad valorem tax revenue resulting from the
3670 implementation of the revision.
3671 Section 76. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3672 made by this act to section 218.67, Florida Statutes, in a
3673 reference thereto, subsection (1) of section 218.125, Florida
3674 Statutes, is reenacted to read:
3675 218.125 Offset for tax loss associated with certain
3676 constitutional amendments affecting fiscally constrained
3677 counties.—
3678 (1) Beginning in the 2010-2011 fiscal year, the Legislature
3679 shall appropriate moneys to offset the reductions in ad valorem
3680 tax revenue experienced by fiscally constrained counties, as
3681 defined in s. 218.67(1), which occur as a direct result of the
3682 implementation of revisions of ss. 3(f) and 4(b), Art. VII of
3683 the State Constitution which were approved in the general
3684 election held in November 2008. The moneys appropriated for this
3685 purpose shall be distributed in January of each fiscal year
3686 among the fiscally constrained counties based on each county’s
3687 proportion of the total reduction in ad valorem tax revenue
3688 resulting from the implementation of the revisions.
3689 Section 77. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3690 made by this act to section 218.67, Florida Statutes, in a
3691 reference thereto, subsection (1) of section 218.135, Florida
3692 Statutes, is reenacted to read:
3693 218.135 Offset for tax loss associated with reductions in
3694 value of certain citrus fruit packing and processing equipment.—
3695 (1) For the 2018-2019 fiscal year, the Legislature shall
3696 appropriate moneys to offset the reductions in ad valorem tax
3697 revenue experienced by fiscally constrained counties, as defined
3698 in s. 218.67(1), which occur as a direct result of the
3699 implementation of s. 193.4516. The moneys appropriated for this
3700 purpose shall be distributed in January 2019 among the fiscally
3701 constrained counties based on each county’s proportion of the
3702 total reduction in ad valorem tax revenue resulting from the
3703 implementation of s. 193.4516.
3704 Section 78. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3705 made by this act to section 218.67, Florida Statutes, in a
3706 reference thereto, subsection (1) of section 218.136, Florida
3707 Statutes, is reenacted to read:
3708 218.136 Offset for ad valorem revenue loss affecting
3709 fiscally constrained counties.—
3710 (1) Beginning in fiscal year 2025-2026, the Legislature
3711 shall appropriate moneys to offset the reductions in ad valorem
3712 tax revenue experienced by fiscally constrained counties, as
3713 defined in s. 218.67(1), which occur as a direct result of the
3714 implementation of revisions of s. 6(a), Art. VII of the State
3715 Constitution approved in the November 2024 general election. The
3716 moneys appropriated for this purpose shall be distributed in
3717 January of each fiscal year among the fiscally constrained
3718 counties based on each county’s proportion of the total
3719 reduction in ad valorem tax revenue resulting from the
3720 implementation of the revision of s. 6(a), Art. VII of the State
3721 Constitution.
3722 Section 79. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3723 made by this act to section 218.67, Florida Statutes, in a
3724 reference thereto, paragraph (cc) of subsection (2) of section
3725 252.35, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
3726 252.35 Emergency management powers; Division of Emergency
3727 Management.—
3728 (2) The division is responsible for carrying out the
3729 provisions of ss. 252.31-252.90. In performing its duties, the
3730 division shall:
3731 (cc) Prioritize technical assistance and training to
3732 fiscally constrained counties as defined in s. 218.67(1) on
3733 aspects of safety measures, preparedness, prevention, response,
3734 recovery, and mitigation relating to natural disasters and
3735 emergencies.
3736 Section 80. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3737 made by this act to section 218.67, Florida Statutes, in a
3738 reference thereto, subsection (4) of section 288.102, Florida
3739 Statutes, is reenacted to read:
3740 288.102 Supply Chain Innovation Grant Program.—
3741 (4) A minimum of a one-to-one match of nonstate resources,
3742 including local, federal, or private funds, to the state
3743 contribution is required. An award may not be made for a project
3744 that is receiving or using state funding from another state
3745 source or statutory program, including tax credits. The one-to
3746 one match requirement is waived for a public entity located in a
3747 fiscally constrained county as defined in s. 218.67(1).
3748 Section 81. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3749 made by this act to section 218.67, Florida Statutes, in a
3750 reference thereto, paragraph (g) of subsection (16) of section
3751 403.064, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
3752 403.064 Reuse of reclaimed water.—
3753 (16) By November 1, 2021, domestic wastewater utilities
3754 that dispose of effluent, reclaimed water, or reuse water by
3755 surface water discharge shall submit to the department for
3756 review and approval a plan for eliminating nonbeneficial surface
3757 water discharge by January 1, 2032, subject to the requirements
3758 of this section. The plan must include the average gallons per
3759 day of effluent, reclaimed water, or reuse water that will no
3760 longer be discharged into surface waters and the date of such
3761 elimination, the average gallons per day of surface water
3762 discharge which will continue in accordance with the
3763 alternatives provided for in subparagraphs (a)2. and 3., and the
3764 level of treatment that the effluent, reclaimed water, or reuse
3765 water will receive before being discharged into a surface water
3766 by each alternative.
3767 (g) This subsection does not apply to any of the following:
3768 1. A domestic wastewater treatment facility that is located
3769 in a fiscally constrained county as described in s. 218.67(1).
3770 2. A domestic wastewater treatment facility that is located
3771 in a municipality that is entirely within a rural area of
3772 opportunity as designated pursuant to s. 288.0656.
3773 3. A domestic wastewater treatment facility that is located
3774 in a municipality that has less than $10 million in total
3775 revenue, as determined by the municipality’s most recent annual
3776 financial report submitted to the Department of Financial
3777 Services in accordance with s. 218.32.
3778 4. A domestic wastewater treatment facility that is
3779 operated by an operator of a mobile home park as defined in s.
3780 723.003 and has a permitted capacity of less than 300,000
3781 gallons per day.
3782 Section 82. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3783 made by this act to section 218.67, Florida Statutes, in
3784 references thereto, subsections (2) and (3) of section 589.08,
3785 Florida Statutes, are reenacted to read:
3786 589.08 Land acquisition restrictions.—
3787 (2) The Florida Forest Service may receive, hold the
3788 custody of, and exercise the control of any lands, and set aside
3789 into a separate, distinct and inviolable fund, any proceeds
3790 derived from the sales of the products of such lands, the use
3791 thereof in any manner, or the sale of such lands save the 25
3792 percent of the proceeds to be paid into the State School Fund as
3793 provided by law. The Florida Forest Service may use and apply
3794 such funds for the acquisition, use, custody, management,
3795 development, or improvement of any lands vested in or subject to
3796 the control of the Florida Forest Service. After full payment
3797 has been made for the purchase of a state forest to the Federal
3798 Government or other grantor, 15 percent of the gross receipts
3799 from a state forest shall be paid to the fiscally constrained
3800 county or counties, as described in s. 218.67(1), in which it is
3801 located in proportion to the acreage located in each county for
3802 use by the county or counties for school purposes.
3803 (3) The Florida Forest Service shall pay 15 percent of the
3804 gross receipts from the Goethe State Forest to each fiscally
3805 constrained county, as described in s. 218.67(1), in which a
3806 portion of the respective forest is located in proportion to the
3807 forest acreage located in such county. The funds must be equally
3808 divided between the board of county commissioners and the school
3809 board of each fiscally constrained county.
3810 Section 83. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3811 made by this act to section 218.67, Florida Statutes, in a
3812 reference thereto, paragraph (f) of subsection (1) of section
3813 1011.62, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
3814 1011.62 Funds for operation of schools.—If the annual
3815 allocation from the Florida Education Finance Program to each
3816 district for operation of schools is not determined in the
3817 annual appropriations act or the substantive bill implementing
3818 the annual appropriations act, it shall be determined as
3819 follows:
3820 (1) COMPUTATION OF THE BASIC AMOUNT TO BE INCLUDED FOR
3821 OPERATION.—The following procedure shall be followed in
3822 determining the annual allocation to each district for
3823 operation:
3824 (f) Small district factor.—An additional value per full
3825 time equivalent student membership is provided to each school
3826 district with a full-time equivalent student membership of fewer
3827 than 20,000 full-time equivalent students which is in a fiscally
3828 constrained county as described in s. 218.67(1). The amount of
3829 the additional value shall be specified in the General
3830 Appropriations Act.
3831 Section 84. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3832 made by this act to sections 218.67 and 339.2818, Florida
3833 Statutes, in references thereto, paragraph (c) of subsection (6)
3834 of section 403.0741, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
3835 403.0741 Grease waste removal and disposal.—
3836 (6) REGULATION BY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.—
3837 (c) Fiscally constrained counties as described in s.
3838 218.67(1) and small counties as defined in s. 339.2818(2) may
3839 opt out of the requirements of this section.
3840 Section 85. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3841 made by this act to section 288.0656, Florida Statutes, in a
3842 reference thereto, paragraph (e) of subsection (7) of section
3843 163.3177, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
3844 163.3177 Required and optional elements of comprehensive
3845 plan; studies and surveys.—
3846 (7)
3847 (e) This subsection does not confer the status of rural
3848 area of opportunity, or any of the rights or benefits derived
3849 from such status, on any land area not otherwise designated as
3850 such pursuant to s. 288.0656(7).
3851 Section 86. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3852 made by this act to section 288.9961, Florida Statutes, in a
3853 reference thereto, paragraph (a) of subsection (7) of section
3854 288.9962, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
3855 288.9962 Broadband Opportunity Program.—
3856 (7)(a) In evaluating grant applications and awarding
3857 grants, the office must give priority to applications that:
3858 1. Offer broadband Internet service to important community
3859 institutions, including, but not limited to, libraries,
3860 educational institutions, public safety facilities, and health
3861 care facilities;
3862 2. Facilitate the use of telemedicine and electronic health
3863 records;
3864 3. Serve economically distressed areas of this state, as
3865 measured by indices of unemployment, poverty, or population loss
3866 that are significantly greater than the statewide average;
3867 4. Provide for scalability to transmission speeds of at
3868 least 100 megabits per second download and 10 megabits per
3869 second upload;
3870 5. Include a component to actively promote the adoption of
3871 the newly available broadband Internet service in the community;
3872 6. Provide evidence of strong support for the project from
3873 citizens, government, businesses, and institutions in the
3874 community;
3875 7. Provide access to broadband Internet service to the
3876 greatest number of unserved households and businesses;
3877 8. Leverage greater amounts of funding for a project from
3878 private sources; or
3879 9. Demonstrate consistency with the strategic plan adopted
3880 under s. 288.9961.
3881 Section 87. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3882 made by this act to section 319.32, Florida Statutes, in a
3883 reference thereto, subsection (1) of section 215.211, Florida
3884 Statutes, is reenacted to read:
3885 215.211 Service charge; elimination or reduction for
3886 specified proceeds.—
3887 (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 215.20(1) and
3888 former s. 215.20(3), the service charge provided in s. 215.20(1)
3889 and former s. 215.20(3), which is deducted from the proceeds of
3890 the taxes distributed under ss. 206.606(1), 207.026,
3891 212.0501(6), and 319.32(5), shall be eliminated beginning July
3892 1, 2000.
3893 Section 88. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3894 made by this act to section 339.68, Florida Statutes, in
3895 references thereto, subsections (5) and (6) of section 339.66,
3896 Florida Statutes, are reenacted to read:
3897 339.66 Upgrade of arterial highways with controlled access
3898 facilities.—
3899 (5) Any existing applicable requirements relating to
3900 department projects shall apply to projects undertaken by the
3901 department pursuant to this section. The department shall take
3902 into consideration the guidance and recommendations of any
3903 previous studies or reports relevant to the projects authorized
3904 by this section and ss. 339.67 and 339.68, including, but not
3905 limited to, the task force reports prepared pursuant to chapter
3906 2019-43, Laws of Florida.
3907 (6) Any existing applicable requirements relating to
3908 turnpike projects apply to projects undertaken by the Turnpike
3909 Enterprise pursuant to this section. The Turnpike Enterprise
3910 shall take into consideration the guidance and recommendations
3911 of any previous studies or reports relevant to the projects
3912 authorized by this section and ss. 339.67 and 339.68, including,
3913 but not limited to, the task force reports prepared pursuant to
3914 chapter 2019-43, Laws of Florida, and with respect to any
3915 extension of the Florida Turnpike from its northerly terminus in
3916 Wildwood.
3917 Section 89. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3918 made by this act to section 420.9073, Florida Statutes, in
3919 references thereto, subsections (4) and (6) of section 420.9072,
3920 Florida Statutes, are reenacted to read:
3921 420.9072 State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program.—The
3922 State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program is created for the
3923 purpose of providing funds to counties and eligible
3924 municipalities as an incentive for the creation of local housing
3925 partnerships, to expand production of and preserve affordable
3926 housing, to further the housing element of the local government
3927 comprehensive plan specific to affordable housing, and to
3928 increase housing-related employment.
3929 (4) Moneys in the Local Government Housing Trust Fund shall
3930 be distributed by the corporation to each approved county and
3931 eligible municipality within the county as provided in s.
3932 420.9073. Distributions shall be allocated to the participating
3933 county and to each eligible municipality within the county
3934 according to an interlocal agreement between the county
3935 governing authority and the governing body of the eligible
3936 municipality or, if there is no interlocal agreement, according
3937 to population. The portion for each eligible municipality is
3938 computed by multiplying the total moneys earmarked for a county
3939 by a fraction, the numerator of which is the population of the
3940 eligible municipality and the denominator of which is the total
3941 population of the county. The remaining revenues shall be
3942 distributed to the governing body of the county.
3943 (6) The moneys that otherwise would be distributed pursuant
3944 to s. 420.9073 to a local government that does not meet the
3945 program’s requirements for receipts of such distributions shall
3946 remain in the Local Government Housing Trust Fund to be
3947 administered by the corporation.
3948 Section 90. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3949 made by this act to section 420.9073, Florida Statutes, in a
3950 reference thereto, paragraph (b) of subsection (7) of section
3951 420.9076, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
3952 420.9076 Adoption of affordable housing incentive
3953 strategies; committees.—
3954 (7) The governing board of the county or the eligible
3955 municipality shall notify the corporation by certified mail of
3956 its adoption of an amendment of its local housing assistance
3957 plan to incorporate local housing incentive strategies. The
3958 notice must include a copy of the approved amended plan.
3959 (b) If a county fails to timely adopt an amended local
3960 housing assistance plan to incorporate local housing incentive
3961 strategies but an eligible municipality receiving a local
3962 housing distribution pursuant to an interlocal agreement within
3963 the county does timely adopt an amended local housing assistance
3964 plan to incorporate local housing incentive strategies, the
3965 corporation, after issuance of a notice of termination, shall
3966 thereafter distribute directly to the participating eligible
3967 municipality its share calculated in the manner provided in s.
3968 420.9073.
3969 Section 91. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3970 made by this act to section 420.9073, Florida Statutes, in a
3971 reference thereto, subsection (2) of section 420.9079, Florida
3972 Statutes, is reenacted to read:
3973 420.9079 Local Government Housing Trust Fund.—
3974 (2) The corporation shall administer the fund exclusively
3975 for the purpose of implementing the programs described in ss.
3976 420.907-420.9076 and this section. With the exception of
3977 monitoring the activities of counties and eligible
3978 municipalities to determine local compliance with program
3979 requirements, the corporation shall not receive appropriations
3980 from the fund for administrative or personnel costs. For the
3981 purpose of implementing the compliance monitoring provisions of
3982 s. 420.9075(9), the corporation may request a maximum of one
3983 quarter of 1 percent of the annual appropriation per state
3984 fiscal year. When such funding is appropriated, the corporation
3985 shall deduct the amount appropriated prior to calculating the
3986 local housing distribution pursuant to ss. 420.9072 and
3987 420.9073.
3988 Section 92. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.