Florida Senate - 2026 SB 250
By Senator Simon
3-00228A-26 2026250__
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 proceeds; 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 a state agency to
25 expedite payment requests from a county, municipality,
26 or rural area of opportunity for a specified purpose;
27 requiring each state agency to report to the Office of
28 Rural Prosperity by a certain date with a summary of
29 certain information; requiring the office to summarize
30 the 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 using
41 certain methods; authorizing specified uses for the
42 revenue; conforming a cross-reference; amending s.
43 288.001, F.S.; requiring the Florida Small Business
44 Development Center Network to use certain funds
45 appropriated for a specified purpose; authorizing the
46 network to dedicate funds to facilitate certain
47 events; amending s. 288.007, F.S.; revising which
48 local governments and economic development
49 organizations seeking to recruit businesses are
50 required to submit a specified report; creating s.
51 288.013, F.S.; providing legislative findings;
52 creating the Office of Rural Prosperity within the
53 Department of Commerce; requiring the Governor to
54 appoint a director, subject to confirmation by the
55 Senate; providing that the director reports to and
56 serves at the pleasure of the secretary of the
57 department; providing the duties of the office;
58 requiring the office to establish by a specified date
59 a certain number of regional rural community liaison
60 centers across this state for a specified purpose;
61 providing the powers, duties, and functions of the
62 liaison centers; requiring each regional rural
63 community liaison center, to the extent possible, to
64 coordinate with certain entities; requiring the
65 liaison centers to engage with the Rural Economic
66 Development Initiative (REDI); requiring at least one
67 staff member of a liaison center to attend the monthly
68 REDI meetings in person or by means of electronic
69 communication; requiring the director of the office to
70 submit an annual report to the Administration
71 Commission within the Executive Office of the
72 Governor; specifying requirements for the annual
73 report; requiring that the annual report also be
74 submitted to the Legislature by a specified date and
75 published on the office’s website; requiring the
76 director of the office to attend the next
77 Administration Commission meeting to present detailed
78 information from the annual report; requiring the
79 Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government
80 Accountability (OPPAGA) to evaluate the effectiveness
81 of the office and submit a report of its findings to
82 the Legislature by a certain date annually until a
83 specified date; requiring OPPAGA to submit its report
84 the office at specified intervals; requiring OPPAGA to
85 review certain strategies from other states; requiring
86 OPPAGA to submit a report of its findings to the
87 Legislature at certain intervals; creating s. 288.014,
88 F.S.; providing legislative findings; requiring the
89 Office of Rural Prosperity to administer the
90 Renaissance Grants Program to provide block grants to
91 eligible communities; requiring the Office of Economic
92 and Demographic Research to certify to the Office of
93 Rural Prosperity certain information by a specified
94 date; defining the term “growth-impeded”; requiring
95 the Office of Economic and Demographic Research to
96 certify annually that a county remains growth-impeded
97 until such county has positive population growth for a
98 specified amount of time; providing that such county,
99 after 3 consecutive years of population growth, is
100 eligible to participate in the program for 1
101 additional year; requiring a county eligible for the
102 program to enter into an agreement with the Office of
103 Rural Prosperity in order to receive the block grant;
104 giving such counties broad authority to design their
105 specific plans; prohibiting the Office of Rural
106 Prosperity from determining how such counties
107 implement the block grant; requiring regional rural
108 community liaison center staff to provide assistance,
109 upon the county’s request; requiring participating
110 counties to report annually to the Office of Rural
111 Prosperity with certain information; providing that a
112 participating county receives a specified amount from
113 funds appropriated to the program, or an equal share
114 of the funds appropriated if the total of such
115 appropriated funds is insufficient to provide that
116 amount; requiring participating counties to make all
117 attempts to limit the amount spent on administrative
118 costs; authorizing participating counties to
119 contribute other funds for block grant purposes;
120 requiring participating counties to hire and retain a
121 renaissance coordinator; providing that funds from the
122 block grant may be used to hire the renaissance
123 coordinator; providing the responsibilities of the
124 renaissance coordinator; requiring the regional rural
125 community liaison center staff to provide assistance
126 and training to the renaissance coordinator, upon
127 request; requiring participating counties to design a
128 plan to make targeted investments to achieve
129 population growth and increase economic vitality;
130 specifying requirements for such plans; requiring
131 participating counties to develop intergovernmental
132 agreements with certain entities in order to implement
133 the plan; requiring the Auditor General to conduct an
134 operational audit every 2 years for a specified
135 purpose; requiring the Office of Economic and
136 Demographic Research to provide an annual report on a
137 specified date of renaissance block grant recipients
138 by county; specifying requirements for the annual
139 report; requiring that the report be submitted to the
140 Legislature; providing that funds appropriated from
141 the program are not subject to reversion; providing
142 for expiration; creating s. 288.0175, F.S.; creating
143 the Public Infrastructure Smart Technology Grant
144 Program within the Office of Rural Prosperity;
145 defining terms; requiring the office to contract with
146 one or more smart technology lead organizations to
147 administer the grant program for a specified purpose;
148 providing the criteria for such contracts; requiring
149 that projects funded by the grant program be included
150 in the office’s annual report; amending s. 288.018,
151 F.S.; requiring the office, rather than the Department
152 of Commerce, to establish a grant program to provide
153 funding for regional economic development
154 organizations; revising who may apply for such grants;
155 providing that a grant award may not exceed a certain
156 amount in a year; providing exceptions to a provision
157 that the department may expend a certain amount for a
158 certain purpose; amending s. 288.019, F.S.; revising
159 the program criteria and procedures that agencies and
160 organizations of REDI are required to review; revising
161 the list of impacts each REDI agency and organization
162 must consider in its review; requiring REDI agencies
163 and organizations to develop a proposal for
164 modifications which minimizes the financial and
165 resource impacts to a rural community; requiring that
166 ranking of evaluation criteria and scoring procedures
167 be used only when ranking is a component of the
168 program; requiring that match requirements be waived
169 or reduced for rural communities; providing that
170 donations of land may be treated as in-kind matches;
171 requiring each agency and organization that applies
172 for or receives federal funding to request federal
173 approval to waive or reduce the financial match
174 requirements, if any, for projects in rural
175 communities; requiring that proposals be submitted to
176 the office, rather than the department; requiring each
177 REDI agency and organization to modify rules or
178 policies as necessary to reflect the finalized
179 proposal; requiring that information about authorized
180 waivers be included on the office’s online rural
181 resource directory; requiring the rural liaison from
182 the related regional rural community liaison center
183 districts to assist the rural community to make waiver
184 or reduction requests; conforming a cross-reference;
185 amending s. 288.021, F.S.; requiring, when
186 practicable, the economic development liaison to serve
187 as the agency representative for REDI; amending s.
188 288.065, F.S.; defining the term “unit of local
189 government”; requiring the office to include in its
190 annual report certain information about the Rural
191 Community Development Revolving Loan Fund; conforming
192 provisions to changes made by the act; amending s.
193 288.0655, F.S.; revising the list of grants that may
194 be awarded by the office under the Rural
195 Infrastructure Fund; deleting the authorization for
196 local match requirements to be waived for a catalyst
197 site; revising the list of departments the office must
198 consult with to certify applicants; requiring the
199 office to include certain information about the Rural
200 Infrastructure Fund in its annual report; conforming
201 provisions to changes made by the act; amending s.
202 288.0656, F.S.; revising legislative intent; providing
203 legislative findings; providing that REDI is created
204 within the Office of Rural Prosperity, rather than the
205 department; deleting the definitions of the terms
206 “catalyst project” and “catalyst site”; requiring that
207 an alternate for each designated deputy secretary be a
208 deputy secretary or higher-level staff person;
209 requiring that the names of such alternates be
210 reported to the director of the office; requiring at
211 least one rural liaison to participate in REDI
212 meetings; requiring REDI to meet at least each month;
213 deleting a provision that a rural area of opportunity
214 may designate catalyst projects; requiring REDI to
215 submit a certain report to the office, rather than to
216 the department; specifying requirements for such
217 report; conforming provisions to changes made by the
218 act; making technical changes; repealing s. 288.06561,
219 F.S., relating to reduction or waiver of financial
220 match requirements; amending s. 288.0657, F.S.;
221 requiring the office, rather than the department, to
222 provide grants to assist rural communities; providing
223 that such grants may be used for specified purposes;
224 requiring the rural liaison to assist those applying
225 for such grants; providing that marketing grants may
226 include certain funding; amending s. 288.1226, F.S.;
227 revising required components of the 4-year marketing
228 plan of the Florida Tourism Industry Marketing
229 Corporation; repealing s. 288.12266, F.S., relating to
230 the Targeted Marketing Assistance Program; amending s.
231 288.9961, F.S.; revising the definition of the term
232 “underserved”; requiring the office to consult with
233 regional rural community liaison centers on
234 development and update of a certain strategic plan;
235 requiring rural liaisons to assist rural communities
236 with providing assistance in coordination with the
237 regional rural community liaison centers; requiring
238 the office to submit reports with specified
239 information to the Governor and the Legislature within
240 certain timeframes; repealing s. 290.06561, F.S.,
241 relating to designation of rural enterprise zones as
242 catalyst sites; amending s. 319.32, F.S.; revising the
243 disposition of fees collected for certain title
244 certificates; amending s. 334.044, F.S.; revising the
245 powers and duties of the Department of Transportation;
246 amending s. 339.0801, F.S.; revising the allocation of
247 funds received in the State Transportation Trust Fund;
248 amending s. 339.2816, F.S.; requiring, rather than
249 authorizing, that certain funds received from the
250 State Transportation Trust Fund be used for the Small
251 County Road Assistance Program; requiring the
252 department to use other additional revenues for the
253 Small County Road Assistance Program; providing an
254 exception to the prohibition against funding capacity
255 improvements on county roads; amending s. 339.2817,
256 F.S.; revising the criteria that the Department of
257 Transportation must consider for evaluating projects
258 for County Incentive Grant Program assistance;
259 requiring the department to give priority to counties
260 located either wholly or partially within the
261 Everglades Agricultural Area and which request a
262 specified percentage of project costs for eligible
263 projects; specifying a limitation on such requests;
264 providing for future expiration; amending s. 339.2818,
265 F.S.; deleting a provision that the funds allocated
266 under the Small County Outreach Program are in
267 addition to the Small County Road Assistance Program;
268 deleting a provision that a local government within
269 the Everglades Agricultural Area, the Peace River
270 Basin, or the Suwannee River Basin may compete for
271 additional funding; conforming provisions to changes
272 made by the act; making a technical change; amending
273 s. 339.68, F.S.; providing legislative findings;
274 creating the Florida Arterial Road Modernization
275 Program within the Department of Transportation;
276 defining the term “rural community”; requiring the
277 department to allocate from the State Transportation
278 Trust Fund a minimum sum in each fiscal year to fund
279 the program; providing that such funding is in
280 addition to any other funding provided to the program;
281 providing criteria the department must use to
282 prioritize projects for funding under the program;
283 requiring the department to submit a report to the
284 Governor and the Legislature by a specified date;
285 requiring that such report be submitted every 2 years
286 thereafter; providing the criteria for such report;
287 requiring the Department of Transportation to allocate
288 additional funds to implement the Small County Road
289 Assistance Program and amend the tentative work
290 program for a specified number of fiscal years;
291 requiring the department to submit a budget amendment
292 before the adoption of the work program; requiring the
293 department to allocate sufficient funds to implement
294 the Florida Arterial Road Modernization Program;
295 requiring the department to amend the current
296 tentative work program for a specified number of
297 fiscal years to include the program’s projects;
298 requiring the department to submit a budget amendment
299 before the implementation of the program; requiring
300 that the revenue increases in the State Transportation
301 Trust Fund which are derived from the act be used to
302 fund the work program; creating s. 341.0525, F.S.;
303 creating a rural transit operating block grant program
304 to be administered by the Department of
305 Transportation; limiting rural transit block grant
306 funds to certain public transit providers; requiring
307 the annual allocation of certain funds from the State
308 Transportation Trust Fund for the program; providing
309 for the distribution of funds to each eligible public
310 transit provider in at least a certain amount;
311 providing authorized uses of grant funds; prohibiting
312 state participation in certain costs above a specified
313 percentage or amount; prohibiting an eligible provider
314 from using block grant funds in a certain manner;
315 providing an exception; prohibiting the state from
316 giving a county more than a specified percentage of
317 available funds or a certain amount; providing
318 eligibility requirements; requiring an eligible
319 provider to return funds under certain circumstances;
320 authorizing the department to consult with an eligible
321 provider before distributing funds to make a certain
322 determination; requiring an eligible provider to repay
323 to the department funds expended on unauthorized uses
324 if revealed in an audit; requiring the department to
325 redistribute returned and repaid funds to other
326 eligible providers; amending s. 381.402, F.S.;
327 revising eligibility requirements for the Florida
328 Reimbursement Assistance for Medical Education
329 Program; revising the proof required to make payments
330 for participation in the program; creating s. 381.403,
331 F.S.; providing legislative findings; creating the
332 Rural Access to Primary and Preventive Care Grant
333 Program within the Department of Health for a
334 specified purpose; defining terms; requiring the
335 department to award grants under the program to
336 physicians, physician assistants, and autonomous
337 advanced practice registered nurses intending to open
338 new practices or practice locations in qualifying
339 rural areas; specifying eligibility criteria for the
340 grants; requiring the department, by a specified date,
341 to create an application process for practitioners
342 applying for grants under the program; specifying
343 requirements for the application and application
344 process; authorizing the department, subject to
345 specific appropriation, to award grants under the
346 program; specifying limitations on the awarding of
347 grants; specifying expenses for which grant funds are
348 authorized and prohibited; requiring the department to
349 enter into a contract with each grant recipient;
350 specifying requirements for the contracts; authorizing
351 the department to adopt rules; requiring the
352 department, beginning on a specified date and annually
353 thereafter, to provide a report containing specified
354 information to the Governor and the Legislature;
355 providing for future legislative review and repeal of
356 the program; creating s. 381.9856, F.S.; creating the
357 Stroke, Cardiac, and Obstetric Response and Education
358 Grant Program within the Department of Health;
359 specifying the purpose of the program; defining terms;
360 requiring the department to award grants under the
361 program to certain entities meeting specified
362 criteria; requiring the department to give priority to
363 certain applicants; limiting individual grants to a
364 specified amount per year; requiring grant recipients
365 to submit quarterly reports to the department;
366 requiring the department to monitor program
367 implementation and outcomes; requiring the department
368 to submit an annual report to the Governor and the
369 Legislature by a specified date; authorizing the
370 department to adopt rules; providing that
371 implementation is limited to the extent specifically
372 funded by legislative appropriation; providing for
373 future legislative review and repeal of the program;
374 amending s. 395.6061, F.S.; providing that rural
375 hospital capital improvement grant program funding may
376 be awarded to rural hospitals to establish mobile care
377 units and telehealth kiosks for specified purposes;
378 defining terms; amending s. 420.9073, F.S.; revising
379 the calculation of guaranteed amounts distributed from
380 the Local Government Housing Trust Fund; reenacting
381 and amending s. 420.9075, F.S.; authorizing a certain
382 percentage of the funds made available in each county
383 and eligible municipality from the local housing
384 distribution to be used to preserve multifamily
385 affordable rental housing; specifying what such funds
386 may be used for; providing an expiration; amending s.
387 1001.451, F.S.; revising the services required to be
388 provided by regional consortium service organizations
389 when such services are found to be necessary and
390 appropriate by such organizations’ boards of
391 directors; revising the allocation that certain
392 regional consortium service organizations are eligible
393 to receive from the General Appropriations Act;
394 requiring each regional consortium service
395 organization to submit an annual report to the
396 Department of Education; requiring that unexpended
397 amounts in certain funds be carried forward; requiring
398 each regional consortium service organization to
399 provide quarterly financial reports to member
400 districts; requiring member districts to designate a
401 district to serve as a fiscal agent for certain
402 purposes; providing for compensation of the fiscal
403 agent district; requiring regional consortium service
404 organizations to retain all funds received from grants
405 or contracted services to cover indirect or
406 administrative costs associated with the provision of
407 such services; requiring the regional consortium
408 service organization board of directors to determine
409 products and services provided by the organization;
410 requiring a regional consortium service organization
411 board of directors to recommend the establishment of
412 positions and appointments to a fiscal agent district;
413 requiring that personnel be employed under specified
414 personnel policies; authorizing the regional
415 consortium service organization board of directors to
416 recommend a salary schedule for personnel; authorizing
417 regional consortium service organizations to purchase
418 or lease property and facilities essential to their
419 operations; providing for the distribution of revenue
420 if a regional consortium service organization is
421 dissolved; deleting a provision requiring applications
422 for incentive grants; authorizing regional consortium
423 service organization boards of directors to contract
424 to provide services to nonmember districts; requiring
425 that a fund balance be established for specified
426 purposes; deleting a requirement for the use of
427 certain funds; authorizing a regional consortium
428 service organization to administer a specified
429 program; creating s. 1001.4511, F.S.; creating the
430 Regional Consortia Service Organization Supplemental
431 Services Program; providing the purpose of the
432 program; authorizing funds to be used for specified
433 purposes; requiring each regional consortium service
434 organization to report the distribution of funds
435 annually to the Legislature; providing for the
436 carryforward of funds; creating s. 1009.635, F.S.;
437 establishing the Rural Incentive for Professional
438 Educators Program within the Department of Education;
439 requiring the program to provide financial assistance
440 for the repayment of student loans to eligible
441 participants who establish permanent residency and
442 employment in rural areas of opportunity; providing
443 eligibility requirements; providing that eligible
444 participants may receive up to a certain amount in
445 total student loan repayment assistance over a certain
446 timeframe; requiring the department to verify certain
447 information of participants in the program before it
448 disburses awards; providing that the program is
449 administered through the Office of Student Financial
450 Assistance within the department; requiring the
451 program to develop procedures and monitor compliance;
452 requiring the State Board of Education to adopt rules
453 by a certain date; amending s. 1013.62, F.S.; revising
454 the calculation methodology used to determine the
455 amount of revenue that a school district must
456 distribute to each eligible charter school; amending
457 s. 1013.64, F.S.; revising conditions under which a
458 school district may receive funding on an approved
459 construction project; providing appropriations for
460 specified purposes; amending ss. 163.3187, 212.205,
461 257.191, 257.193, 265.283, 288.11621, 288.11631,
462 443.191, 571.26, and 571.265, F.S.; conforming cross
463 references and provisions to changes made by the act;
464 reenacting s. 288.9935(8), F.S., relating to the
465 Microfinance Guarantee Program, to incorporate the
466 amendment made to s. 20.60, F.S., in a reference
467 thereto; reenacting ss. 125.0104(5)(c), 193.624(3),
468 196.182(2), 218.12(1), 218.125(1), 218.135(1),
469 218.136(1), 252.35(2)(cc), 288.102(4), 403.064(16)(h),
470 589.08(2) and (3), and 1011.62(1)(f), F.S., relating
471 to authorized uses of tourist development tax revenue;
472 applicability of assessments of renewable energy
473 source devices; application of exemptions of renewable
474 energy source devices; appropriations to offset
475 reductions in ad valorem tax revenue in fiscally
476 constrained counties; offset for tax loss associated
477 with certain constitutional amendments affecting
478 fiscally constrained counties; offset for tax loss
479 associated with reductions in value of certain citrus
480 fruit packing and processing equipment; offset for ad
481 valorem revenue loss affecting fiscally constrained
482 counties; Division of Emergency Management powers;
483 one-to-one match requirement under the Supply Chain
484 Innovation Grant Program; applicability of provisions
485 related to reuse of reclaimed water; land acquisition
486 restrictions; and funds for operation of schools,
487 respectively, to incorporate the amendment made to s.
488 218.67, F.S., in references thereto; reenacting s.
489 403.0741(6)(c), F.S., relating to grease waste removal
490 and disposal, to incorporate the amendments made to
491 ss. 218.67 and 339.2818, F.S., in references thereto;
492 reenacting s. 163.3177(7)(e), F.S., relating to
493 required and optional elements of comprehensive plans
494 and studies and surveys, to incorporate the amendment
495 made to s. 288.0656, F.S., in a reference thereto;
496 reenacting s. 288.9962(7)(a), F.S., relating to the
497 Broadband Opportunity Program, to incorporate the
498 amendment made to s. 288.9961, F.S., in a reference
499 thereto; reenacting s. 215.211(1), F.S., relating to
500 service charges and elimination or reduction for
501 specified proceeds, to incorporate the amendment made
502 to s. 319.32, F.S., in a reference thereto; reenacting
503 s. 339.66(5) and (6), F.S., relating to upgrades of
504 arterial highways with controlled access facilities,
505 to incorporate the amendment made to s. 339.68, F.S.,
506 in references thereto; reenacting ss. 420.9072(4) and
507 (6), 420.9076(7)(b), and 420.9079(2), F.S., relating
508 to the State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program,
509 adoption of affordable housing incentive strategies
510 and committees, and the Local Government Housing Trust
511 Fund, respectively, to incorporate the amendment made
512 to s. 420.9073, F.S., in references thereto; providing
513 an effective date.
514
515 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
516
517 Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) and paragraph
518 (c) of subsection (10) of section 20.60, Florida Statutes, are
519 amended, and paragraph (a) of subsection (5) of that section is
520 reenacted, to read:
521 20.60 Department of Commerce; creation; powers and duties.—
522 (3)(a) The following divisions and offices of the
523 Department of Commerce are established:
524 1. The Division of Economic Development.
525 2. The Division of Community Development.
526 3. The Division of Workforce Services.
527 4. The Division of Finance and Administration.
528 5. The Division of Information Technology.
529 6. The Office of the Secretary.
530 7. The Office of Rural Prosperity.
531 8. The Office of Economic Accountability and Transparency,
532 which shall:
533 a. Oversee the department’s critical objectives as
534 determined by the secretary and make sure that the department’s
535 key objectives are clearly communicated to the public.
536 b. Organize department resources, expertise, data, and
537 research to focus on and solve the complex economic challenges
538 facing the state.
539 c. Provide leadership for the department’s priority issues
540 that require integration of policy, management, and critical
541 objectives from multiple programs and organizations internal and
542 external to the department; and organize and manage external
543 communication on such priority issues.
544 d. Promote and facilitate key department initiatives to
545 address priority economic issues and explore data and identify
546 opportunities for innovative approaches to address such economic
547 issues.
548 e. Promote strategic planning for the department.
549 (5) The divisions within the department have specific
550 responsibilities to achieve the duties, responsibilities, and
551 goals of the department. Specifically:
552 (a) The Division of Economic Development shall:
553 1. Analyze and evaluate business prospects identified by
554 the Governor and the secretary.
555 2. Administer certain tax refund, tax credit, and grant
556 programs created in law. Notwithstanding any other provision of
557 law, the department may expend interest earned from the
558 investment of program funds deposited in the Grants and
559 Donations Trust Fund to contract for the administration of those
560 programs, or portions of the programs, assigned to the
561 department by law, by the appropriations process, or by the
562 Governor. Such expenditures shall be subject to review under
563 chapter 216.
564 3. Develop measurement protocols for the state incentive
565 programs and for the contracted entities which will be used to
566 determine their performance and competitive value to the state.
567 Performance measures, benchmarks, and sanctions must be
568 developed in consultation with the legislative appropriations
569 committees and the appropriate substantive committees, and are
570 subject to the review and approval process provided in s.
571 216.177. The approved performance measures, standards, and
572 sanctions shall be included and made a part of the strategic
573 plan for contracts entered into for delivery of programs
574 authorized by this section.
575 4. Develop a 5-year statewide strategic plan. The strategic
576 plan must include, but need not be limited to:
577 a. Strategies for the promotion of business formation,
578 expansion, recruitment, and retention through aggressive
579 marketing, attraction of venture capital and finance
580 development, domestic trade, international development, and
581 export assistance, which lead to more and better jobs and higher
582 wages for all geographic regions, disadvantaged communities, and
583 populations of the state, including rural areas, minority
584 businesses, and urban core areas.
585 b. The development of realistic policies and programs to
586 further the economic diversity of the state, its regions, and
587 their associated industrial clusters.
588 c. Specific provisions for the stimulation of economic
589 development and job creation in rural areas and midsize cities
590 and counties of the state, including strategies for rural
591 marketing and the development of infrastructure in rural areas.
592 d. Provisions for the promotion of the successful long-term
593 economic development of the state with increased emphasis in
594 market research and information.
595 e. Plans for the generation of foreign investment in the
596 state which create jobs paying above-average wages and which
597 result in reverse investment in the state, including programs
598 that establish viable overseas markets, assist in meeting the
599 financing requirements of export-ready firms, broaden
600 opportunities for international joint venture relationships, use
601 the resources of academic and other institutions, coordinate
602 trade assistance and facilitation services, and facilitate
603 availability of and access to education and training programs
604 that assure requisite skills and competencies necessary to
605 compete successfully in the global marketplace.
606 f. The identification of business sectors that are of
607 current or future importance to the state’s economy and to the
608 state’s global business image, and development of specific
609 strategies to promote the development of such sectors.
610 g. Strategies for talent development necessary in the state
611 to encourage economic development growth, taking into account
612 factors such as the state’s talent supply chain, education and
613 training opportunities, and available workforce.
614 h. Strategies and plans to support this state’s defense,
615 space, and aerospace industries and the emerging complementary
616 business activities and industries that support the development
617 and growth of defense, space, and aerospace in this state.
618 5. Update the strategic plan every 5 years.
619 6. Involve CareerSource Florida, Inc.; direct-support
620 organizations of the department; local governments; the general
621 public; local and regional economic development organizations;
622 other local, state, and federal economic, international, and
623 workforce development entities; the business community; and
624 educational institutions to assist with the strategic plan.
625 7. Coordinate with the Florida Tourism Industry Marketing
626 Corporation in the development of the 4-year marketing plan
627 pursuant to s. 288.1226(13).
628 8. Administer and manage relationships, as appropriate,
629 with the entities and programs created pursuant to the Florida
630 Capital Formation Act, ss. 288.9621-288.96255.
631 (10) The department shall, by November 1 of each year,
632 submit an annual report to the Governor, the President of the
633 Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives on the
634 condition of the business climate and economic development in
635 the state.
636 (c) The report must incorporate annual reports of other
637 programs, including:
638 1. A detailed report of the performance of the Black
639 Business Loan Program and a cumulative summary of quarterly
640 report data required under s. 288.714.
641 2. The Rural Economic Development Initiative established
642 under s. 288.0656.
643 3. A detailed report of the performance of the Florida
644 Development Finance Corporation and a summary of the
645 corporation’s report required under s. 288.9610.
646 3.4. Information provided by Space Florida under s.
647 331.3051 and an analysis of the activities and accomplishments
648 of Space Florida.
649 Section 2. Subsection (5) is added to section 163.3168,
650 Florida Statutes, to read:
651 163.3168 Planning innovations and technical assistance.—
652 (5) When selecting applications for funding for technical
653 assistance, the state land planning agency shall give preference
654 to local governments located in a rural area of opportunity as
655 defined in s. 288.0656. The state land planning agency shall
656 consult with the Office of Rural Prosperity when awarding
657 funding pursuant to this section.
658 Section 3. Paragraph (i) is added to subsection (4) of
659 section 201.15, Florida Statutes, to read:
660 201.15 Distribution of taxes collected.—All taxes collected
661 under this chapter are hereby pledged and shall be first made
662 available to make payments when due on bonds issued pursuant to
663 s. 215.618 or s. 215.619, or any other bonds authorized to be
664 issued on a parity basis with such bonds. Such pledge and
665 availability for the payment of these bonds shall have priority
666 over any requirement for the payment of service charges or costs
667 of collection and enforcement under this section. All taxes
668 collected under this chapter, except taxes distributed to the
669 Land Acquisition Trust Fund pursuant to subsections (1) and (2),
670 are subject to the service charge imposed in s. 215.20(1).
671 Before distribution pursuant to this section, the Department of
672 Revenue shall deduct amounts necessary to pay the costs of the
673 collection and enforcement of the tax levied by this chapter.
674 The costs and service charge may not be levied against any
675 portion of taxes pledged to debt service on bonds to the extent
676 that the costs and service charge are required to pay any
677 amounts relating to the bonds. All of the costs of the
678 collection and enforcement of the tax levied by this chapter and
679 service charge shall be available and transferred to the extent
680 necessary to pay debt service and any other amounts payable with
681 respect to bonds authorized before January 1, 2017, secured by
682 revenues distributed pursuant to this section. All taxes
683 remaining after deduction of costs shall be distributed as
684 follows:
685 (4) After the required distributions to the Land
686 Acquisition Trust Fund pursuant to subsections (1) and (2) and
687 deduction of the service charge imposed pursuant to s.
688 215.20(1), the remainder shall be distributed as follows:
689 (i) A total of $30 million shall be paid to the credit of
690 the State Transportation Trust Fund, which funds are exclusively
691 for the use of the Florida Arterial Road Modernization Program
692 as provided in s. 339.68.
693 Section 4. Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section
694 202.18, Florida Statutes, is amended, and paragraph (b) of
695 subsection (2) of that section is republished, to read:
696 202.18 Allocation and disposition of tax proceeds.—The
697 proceeds of the communications services taxes remitted under
698 this chapter shall be treated as follows:
699 (2) The proceeds of the taxes remitted under s.
700 202.12(1)(b) shall be allocated as follows:
701 (b) Fifty-five and nine-tenths percent of the remainder
702 shall be allocated to the state and distributed pursuant to s.
703 212.20(6), except that the proceeds allocated pursuant to s.
704 212.20(6)(d)2.b. shall be prorated to the participating counties
705 in the same proportion as that month’s collection of the taxes
706 and fees imposed pursuant to chapter 212 and paragraph (1)(b).
707 (c)1. After the distribution required under paragraph (b),
708 the remainder During each calendar year, the remaining portion
709 of the proceeds shall be transferred to the Local Government
710 Half-cent Sales Tax Clearing Trust Fund and. Seventy percent of
711 such proceeds shall be allocated in the same proportion as the
712 allocation of total receipts of the half-cent sales tax under s.
713 218.61 and the emergency distribution under s. 218.65 in the
714 prior state fiscal year. Thirty percent of such proceeds shall
715 be distributed pursuant to s. 218.67.
716 2. The proportion of the proceeds allocated based on the
717 emergency distribution under s. 218.65 shall be distributed
718 pursuant to s. 218.65.
719 3. In each calendar year, the proportion of the proceeds
720 allocated based on the half-cent sales tax under s. 218.61 shall
721 be allocated to each county in the same proportion as the
722 county’s percentage of total sales tax allocation for the prior
723 state fiscal year and distributed pursuant to s. 218.62.
724 4. The department shall distribute the appropriate amount
725 to each municipality and county each month at the same time that
726 local communications services taxes are distributed pursuant to
727 subsection (3).
728 Section 5. Paragraph (d) of subsection (6) of section
729 212.20, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
730 212.20 Funds collected, disposition; additional powers of
731 department; operational expense; refund of taxes adjudicated
732 unconstitutionally collected.—
733 (6) Distribution of all proceeds under this chapter and ss.
734 202.18(1)(b) and (2)(b) and 203.01(1)(a)3. is as follows:
735 (d) The proceeds of all other taxes and fees imposed
736 pursuant to this chapter or remitted pursuant to s. 202.18(1)(b)
737 and (2)(b) shall be distributed as follows:
738 1. In any fiscal year, the greater of $500 million, minus
739 an amount equal to 4.6 percent of the proceeds of the taxes
740 collected pursuant to chapter 201, or 5.2 percent of all other
741 taxes and fees imposed pursuant to this chapter or remitted
742 pursuant to s. 202.18(1)(b) and (2)(b) shall be deposited in
743 monthly installments into the General Revenue Fund.
744 2. After the distribution under subparagraph 1., 8.9744
745 percent of the amount remitted by a sales tax dealer located
746 within a participating county pursuant to s. 218.61 shall be
747 transferred in two parts:
748 a. The total amount of $50 million of the communications
749 services taxes remitted pursuant to s. 202.18(1)(b) and (2)(b),
750 in any fiscal year, shall be distributed by the department by a
751 nonoperating transfer to the Department of Commerce in monthly
752 installments to the Grants and Donations Trust Fund within the
753 Department of Commerce for the Utility Relocation Reimbursement
754 Grant Program created in s. 337.4031; and
755 b. The remainder shall be transferred into the Local
756 Government Half-cent Sales Tax Clearing Trust Fund. Beginning
757 October 1, 2025, the amount to be transferred shall be reduced
758 by 0.1018 percent, and the department shall distribute this
759 amount to the Public Employees Relations Commission Trust Fund
760 less $5,000 each month, which shall be added to the amount
761 calculated in subparagraph 3. and distributed accordingly.
762 3. After the distribution under subparagraphs 1. and 2.,
763 0.0966 percent shall be transferred to the Local Government
764 Half-cent Sales Tax Clearing Trust Fund and distributed pursuant
765 to s. 218.65.
766 4. After the distributions under subparagraphs 1., 2., and
767 3., 2.0810 percent of the available proceeds shall be
768 transferred monthly to the Revenue Sharing Trust Fund for
769 Counties pursuant to s. 218.215.
770 5. After the distributions under subparagraphs 1., 2., and
771 3., 1.3653 percent of the available proceeds shall be
772 transferred monthly to the Revenue Sharing Trust Fund for
773 Municipalities pursuant to s. 218.215. If the total revenue to
774 be distributed pursuant to this subparagraph is at least as
775 great as the amount due from the Revenue Sharing Trust Fund for
776 Municipalities and the former Municipal Financial Assistance
777 Trust Fund in state fiscal year 1999-2000, no municipality shall
778 receive less than the amount due from the Revenue Sharing Trust
779 Fund for Municipalities and the former Municipal Financial
780 Assistance Trust Fund in state fiscal year 1999-2000. If the
781 total proceeds to be distributed are less than the amount
782 received in combination from the Revenue Sharing Trust Fund for
783 Municipalities and the former Municipal Financial Assistance
784 Trust Fund in state fiscal year 1999-2000, each municipality
785 shall receive an amount proportionate to the amount it was due
786 in state fiscal year 1999-2000.
787 6. After the distributions required under subparagraphs 1.
788 5., the greater of $50 million or 0.1412 percent of the
789 available proceeds shall be transferred in each fiscal year to
790 fiscally constrained counties pursuant to s. 218.67.
791 7. Of the remaining proceeds:
792 a. In each fiscal year, the sum of $29,915,500 shall be
793 divided into as many equal parts as there are counties in the
794 state, and one part shall be distributed to each county. The
795 distribution among the several counties must begin each fiscal
796 year on or before January 5th and continue monthly for a total
797 of 4 months. If a local or special law required that any moneys
798 accruing to a county in fiscal year 1999-2000 under the then
799 existing provisions of s. 550.135 be paid directly to the
800 district school board, special district, or a municipal
801 government, such payment must continue until the local or
802 special law is amended or repealed. The state covenants with
803 holders of bonds or other instruments of indebtedness issued by
804 local governments, special districts, or district school boards
805 before July 1, 2000, that it is not the intent of this
806 subparagraph to adversely affect the rights of those holders or
807 relieve local governments, special districts, or district school
808 boards of the duty to meet their obligations as a result of
809 previous pledges or assignments or trusts entered into which
810 obligated funds received from the distribution to county
811 governments under then-existing s. 550.135. This distribution
812 specifically is in lieu of funds distributed under s. 550.135
813 before July 1, 2000.
814 b. The department shall distribute $166,667 monthly to each
815 applicant certified as a facility for a new or retained
816 professional sports franchise pursuant to s. 288.1162. Up to
817 $41,667 shall be distributed monthly by the department to each
818 certified applicant as defined in s. 288.11621 for a facility
819 for a spring training franchise. However, not more than $416,670
820 may be distributed monthly in the aggregate to all certified
821 applicants for facilities for spring training franchises.
822 Distributions begin 60 days after such certification and
823 continue for not more than 30 years, except as otherwise
824 provided in s. 288.11621. A certified applicant identified in
825 this sub-subparagraph may not receive more in distributions than
826 expended by the applicant for the public purposes provided in s.
827 288.1162(5) or s. 288.11621(3).
828 c. The department shall distribute up to $83,333 monthly to
829 each certified applicant as defined in s. 288.11631 for a
830 facility used by a single spring training franchise, or up to
831 $166,667 monthly to each certified applicant as defined in s.
832 288.11631 for a facility used by more than one spring training
833 franchise. Monthly distributions begin 60 days after such
834 certification or July 1, 2016, whichever is later, and continue
835 for not more than 20 years to each certified applicant as
836 defined in s. 288.11631 for a facility used by a single spring
837 training franchise or not more than 25 years to each certified
838 applicant as defined in s. 288.11631 for a facility used by more
839 than one spring training franchise. A certified applicant
840 identified in this sub-subparagraph may not receive more in
841 distributions than expended by the applicant for the public
842 purposes provided in s. 288.11631(3).
843 d. The department shall distribute $15,333 monthly to the
844 State Transportation Trust Fund.
845 e. Beginning July 1, 2023, in each fiscal year, the
846 department shall distribute $27.5 million to the Florida
847 Agricultural Promotional Campaign Trust Fund under s. 571.26,
848 for further distribution in accordance with s. 571.265.
849 8.7. All other proceeds must remain in the General Revenue
850 Fund.
851 Section 6. Paragraph (h) of subsection (1) of section
852 215.971, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
853 215.971 Agreements funded with federal or state
854 assistance.—
855 (1) An agency agreement that provides state financial
856 assistance to a recipient or subrecipient, as those terms are
857 defined in s. 215.97, or that provides federal financial
858 assistance to a subrecipient, as defined by applicable United
859 States Office of Management and Budget circulars, must include
860 all of the following:
861 (h)1. If the agency agreement provides federal or state
862 financial assistance to a county or municipality that is a rural
863 community or rural area of opportunity as those terms are
864 defined in s. 288.0656(2), a provision allowing the agency to
865 provide for the payment of invoices to the county, municipality,
866 or rural area of opportunity as that term is defined in s.
867 288.0656(2), for verified and eligible performance that has been
868 completed in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth
869 in the agreement. This provision is not intended to require
870 reimbursement to the county, municipality, or rural area of
871 opportunity for invoices paid, but to allow the agency to
872 provide for the payment of invoices due. The agency shall
873 expedite such payment requests in order to facilitate the timely
874 payment of invoices received by the county, municipality, or
875 rural area of opportunity. This provision is included to
876 alleviate the financial hardships that certain rural counties
877 and municipalities encounter when administering agreements, and
878 must be exercised by the agency when a county or municipality
879 demonstrates financial hardship, to the extent that federal or
880 state law, rule, or other regulation allows such payments. This
881 paragraph may not be construed to alter or limit any other
882 provisions of federal or state law, rule, or other regulation.
883 2. By August 1, 2027, and each year thereafter, each state
884 agency shall report to the Office of Rural Prosperity on the
885 implementation of this paragraph for the preceding fiscal year.
886 The Office of Rural Prosperity shall summarize the information
887 received pursuant to this paragraph in its annual report as
888 required in s. 288.013.
889 Section 7. Section 218.67, Florida Statutes, is amended to
890 read:
891 218.67 Distribution for fiscally constrained counties.—
892 (1) Each county that is entirely within a rural area of
893 opportunity as designated by the Governor pursuant to s.
894 288.0656 or each county for which the value of a mill will raise
895 no more than $10 $5 million in revenue, based on the taxable
896 value certified pursuant to s. 1011.62(4)(a)1.a., from the
897 previous July 1, is shall be considered a fiscally constrained
898 county.
899 (2) Each fiscally constrained county government that
900 participates in the local government half-cent sales tax shall
901 be eligible to receive an additional distribution from the Local
902 Government Half-cent Sales Tax Clearing Trust Fund, as provided
903 in s. 212.20(6)(d)6. s. 202.18(2)(c)1., in addition to its
904 regular monthly distribution provided under this part and any
905 emergency or supplemental distribution under s. 218.65.
906 (3) The amount to be distributed to each fiscally
907 constrained county shall be determined by the Department of
908 Revenue at the beginning of the fiscal year, using the prior
909 fiscal year’s sales and use tax collections from the most recent
910 fiscal year that reports 12 months of collections July 1 taxable
911 value certified pursuant to s. 1011.62(4)(a)1.a., tax data, the
912 population as defined in s. 218.21, and the most current
913 calendar year per capita personal income, as initially reported
914 by the Bureau of Economic Analysis of the United States
915 Department of Commerce millage rate levied for the prior fiscal
916 year. The amount distributed shall be allocated based upon the
917 following factors:
918 (a) The contribution-to-revenue relative revenue-raising
919 capacity factor for each participating county must equal 100
920 multiplied by a quotient, the numerator of which is the county’s
921 population and the denominator of which is the state sales and
922 use tax collections attributable to the county shall be the
923 ability of the eligible county to generate ad valorem revenues
924 from 1 mill of taxation on a per capita basis. A county that
925 raises no more than $25 per capita from 1 mill shall be assigned
926 a value of 1; a county that raises more than $25 but no more
927 than $30 per capita from 1 mill shall be assigned a value of
928 0.75; and a county that raises more than $30 but no more than
929 $50 per capita from 1 mill shall be assigned a value of 0.5. No
930 value shall be assigned to counties that raise more than $50 per
931 capita from 1 mill of ad valorem taxation.
932 (b) The personal-income local-effort factor must equal a
933 quotient, the numerator of which is the median per capita
934 personal income of participating counties and the denominator of
935 which is the county’s per capita personal income shall be a
936 measure of the relative level of local effort of the eligible
937 county as indicated by the millage rate levied for the prior
938 fiscal year. The local-effort factor shall be the most recently
939 adopted countywide operating millage rate for each eligible
940 county multiplied by 0.1.
941 (c) Each eligible county’s proportional allocation of the
942 total amount available to be distributed to all of the eligible
943 counties must shall be in the same proportion as the sum of the
944 county’s two factors is to the sum of the two factors for all
945 eligible counties. The proportional rate computation must be
946 carried to the fifth decimal place, and the amount to distribute
947 to each county must be rounded to the nearest whole dollar
948 amount. The counties that are eligible to receive an allocation
949 under this subsection and the amount available to be distributed
950 to such counties do shall not include counties participating in
951 the phaseout period under subsection (4) or the amounts they
952 remain eligible to receive during the phaseout.
953 (4) For those counties that no longer qualify under the
954 requirements of subsection (1) after the effective date of this
955 act, there shall be a 2-year phaseout period. Beginning on July
956 1 of the year following the year in which the value of a mill
957 for that county exceeds $10 $5 million in revenue, the county
958 shall receive two-thirds of the amount received in the prior
959 year, and beginning on July 1 of the second year following the
960 year in which the value of a mill for that county exceeds $10 $5
961 million in revenue, the county shall receive one-third of the
962 amount received in the last year that the county qualified as a
963 fiscally constrained county. Following the 2-year phaseout
964 period, the county is shall no longer be eligible to receive any
965 distributions under this section unless the county can be
966 considered a fiscally constrained county as provided in
967 subsection (1).
968 (5)(a) The revenues received under this section must be
969 allocated may be used by a county to be used for the following
970 purposes:
971 1. Fifty percent for public safety, including salary
972 expenditures for law enforcement officers or correctional
973 officers, as those terms are defined in s. 943.10(1) and (2),
974 respectively, firefighters as defined in s. 633.102, and
975 emergency medical technicians or paramedics as those terms are
976 defined in s. 401.23.
977 2. Thirty percent for infrastructure needs.
978 3. Twenty percent for any public purpose.
979 (b) The revenues received under this section any public
980 purpose, except that such revenues may not be used to pay debt
981 service on bonds, notes, certificates of participation, or any
982 other forms of indebtedness.
983 Section 8. Present paragraphs (d) and (e) of subsection (7)
984 of section 288.001, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as
985 paragraphs (e) and (f), respectively, and a new paragraph (d) is
986 added to that subsection, to read:
987 288.001 The Florida Small Business Development Center
988 Network.—
989 (7) ADDITIONAL STATE FUNDS; USES; PAY-PER-PERFORMANCE
990 INCENTIVES; STATEWIDE SERVICE; SERVICE ENHANCEMENTS; BEST
991 PRACTICES; ELIGIBILITY.—
992 (d) Notwithstanding paragraphs (a), (b), and (c), the
993 network shall use funds directly appropriated for the specific
994 purpose of expanding service in rural communities as defined in
995 s. 288.0656, in addition to any funds allocated by the network
996 from other sources. The network shall use the funds to develop
997 an activity plan focused on network consultants and resources in
998 rural communities. In collaboration with regional economic
999 development organizations as defined in s. 288.018, the plan
1000 must provide for either full- or part-time consultants to be
1001 available for at least 20 hours per week in rural areas or to be
1002 permanently stationed in rural areas. This may include
1003 establishing a circuit in specific rural locations to ensure the
1004 consultants’ availability on a regular basis. By using the funds
1005 to create a regular presence in rural areas, the network will
1006 strengthen community collaboration, raise awareness of available
1007 resources to provide opportunities for new business development
1008 or existing business growth, and make professional experience,
1009 education, and business information available in these essential
1010 communities. The network may dedicate funds to facilitate local
1011 or regional events that focus on small business topics, provide
1012 consulting services, and leverage partner organizations, such as
1013 the regional economic development organizations, local workforce
1014 development boards as described in s. 445.007, and Florida
1015 College System institutions.
1016 Section 9. Section 288.007, Florida Statutes, is amended to
1017 read:
1018 288.007 Inventory of communities seeking to recruit
1019 businesses.—By September 30 of each year, a county or
1020 municipality that has a population of at least 25,000 or its
1021 local economic development organization, and each local
1022 government within a rural area of opportunity as defined in s.
1023 288.0656 or its regional economic development organization as
1024 defined in s. 288.018 or other local economic development
1025 organization, shall must submit to the department a brief
1026 overview of the strengths, services, and economic development
1027 incentives that its community offers. The local government or
1028 its local economic development organization also shall must
1029 identify any industries that it is encouraging to locate or
1030 relocate to its area. Unless otherwise required pursuant to this
1031 section, a county or municipality having a population of 25,000
1032 or less fewer or its local economic development organization
1033 seeking to recruit businesses may submit information as required
1034 in this section and may participate in any activity or
1035 initiative resulting from the collection, analysis, and
1036 reporting of the information to the department pursuant to this
1037 section.
1038 Section 10. Section 288.013, Florida Statutes, is created
1039 to read:
1040 288.013 Office of Rural Prosperity.—
1041 (1) The Legislature finds that the unique characteristics
1042 of the rural communities in this state are integral to making
1043 Florida an attractive place to visit, work, and live. The
1044 Legislature further finds that fostering a prosperous rural
1045 economy and vibrant rural communities serves the best interests
1046 of this state. Rural prosperity supports this state’s
1047 infrastructure, housing, agricultural, and food-processing needs
1048 and advances the overall health of Florida’s economy. It is
1049 essential that rural areas be able to grow and thrive, whether
1050 independently or through regional partnerships. To better serve
1051 rural communities, and in recognition of the unique challenges
1052 and opportunities they face, the Office of Rural Prosperity is
1053 established to ensure that state efforts to support rural
1054 Florida are coordinated, focused, and effective.
1055 (2) The Office of Rural Prosperity is created within the
1056 Department of Commerce to support rural communities by helping
1057 rural stakeholders navigate available programs and resources and
1058 by representing rural interests across state government.
1059 (3) The Governor shall appoint a director to lead the
1060 office, subject to confirmation by the Senate. The director
1061 shall report to the secretary of the department and shall serve
1062 at the pleasure of the secretary.
1063 (4) The office shall do all of the following:
1064 (a) Serve as the state’s point of contact for rural local
1065 governments.
1066 (b) Administer the Rural Economic Development Initiative
1067 (REDI) pursuant to s. 288.0656.
1068 (c) Provide training and technical assistance to rural
1069 local governments on a broad range of community and economic
1070 development activities. The training and technical assistance
1071 may be offered using communications technology or in person. In
1072 addition, the office shall post a recorded training and
1073 technical assistance video to the office’s website which covers
1074 all of the required topics. The training and technical
1075 assistance must include, at a minimum, the following topics:
1076 1. How to access state and federal resources, including
1077 training on the online rural resource directory required under
1078 paragraph (d).
1079 2. Best practices for comprehensive planning, economic
1080 development, and land development in rural communities.
1081 3. Strategies to address staffing shortages and strengthen
1082 management functions in rural local governments.
1083 4. Requirements of, and updates on recent changes to, the
1084 Community Planning Act under s. 163.3161.
1085 5. Updates on other recent state and federal laws affecting
1086 rural local governments.
1087 (d) Create and maintain an online rural resource directory
1088 to serve as an interactive tool for users to navigate state and
1089 federal resources, tools, and services available to rural local
1090 governments. The office shall ensure the directory is regularly
1091 updated and, to the greatest extent possible, includes current
1092 information on programs, resources, and services that address
1093 the needs of rural communities in all areas of governance. Each
1094 state agency shall routinely provide information and updates to
1095 the office to support maintenance of the directory. The
1096 directory must allow users to search by indicators, such as
1097 agency name, resource type, or topic, and include a notification
1098 feature that alerts users when new or updated resources are
1099 available. To the greatest extent possible, the directory must
1100 identify any financial match requirements associated with listed
1101 programs.
1102 (5)(a) By October 1, 2026, the office shall establish and
1103 provide staff for seven regional rural community liaison centers
1104 across this state to provide specialized in-person state support
1105 to rural local governments located in rural areas of opportunity
1106 as defined in s. 288.0656. The department shall, by rule, divide
1107 the state into seven regions and assign a liaison center to each
1108 region. Each liaison center shall serve the local governments
1109 within its geographic area and shall be staffed with at least
1110 two full-time department employees. At a minimum, each liaison
1111 center has the following powers and duties:
1112 1. Assist local governments in planning and achieving goals
1113 related to local or regional growth, economic development, and
1114 rural prosperity.
1115 2. Facilitate access to state and federal resources,
1116 including grants, loans, and other available assistance.
1117 3. Advise local governments on available program waivers,
1118 including financial match waivers or reductions for projects
1119 using state or federal funds through REDI under s. 288.0656.
1120 4. Coordinate technical assistance needs with the
1121 department and other state or federal agencies.
1122 5. Promote model ordinances, policies, and strategies
1123 related to economic development.
1124 6. Assist local governments with regulatory and reporting
1125 compliance requirements.
1126 (b) To the greatest extent possible, each regional rural
1127 community liaison center shall coordinate with local and
1128 regional governmental entities, regional economic development
1129 organizations as defined in s. 288.018, and other appropriate
1130 entities to establish a network that fosters community-driven
1131 solutions promoting viable and sustainable rural communities.
1132 (c) Each regional rural community liaison center shall
1133 regularly engage with REDI established in s. 288.0656, and at
1134 least one staff member from each liaison center shall attend the
1135 monthly REDI meeting, either in person or by means of electronic
1136 communication.
1137 (6) By December 1, 2026, and each year thereafter, the
1138 director of the office shall submit to the Administration
1139 Commission within the Executive Office of the Governor a written
1140 report describing the office’s operations and accomplishments
1141 for the preceding year. The report must include the REDI report
1142 required by s. 288.0656(8). In consultation with the Department
1143 of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the office shall also
1144 include in the annual report recommendations for policies,
1145 programs, and funding initiatives to further support the needs
1146 of rural communities in this state. The office shall also submit
1147 the annual report to the President of the Senate and the Speaker
1148 of the House of Representatives by December 1 of each year and
1149 publish it on the office’s website. At the next scheduled
1150 meeting of the Administration Commission following submission of
1151 the report, the director shall, in person, present detailed
1152 information from the report required under this subsection.
1153 (7)(a) The Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government
1154 Accountability (OPPAGA) shall evaluate the effectiveness of the
1155 office and submit a report of its findings, including any
1156 recommended policy or statutory changes, to the President of the
1157 Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by
1158 December 15, 2027, and each year thereafter through 2029.
1159 Beginning in 2032, the report must be submitted every 3 years.
1160 (b) OPPAGA shall review strategies implemented by other
1161 states for rural community preservation, enhancement, and
1162 revitalization and evaluate their effectiveness and potential
1163 applicability in this state. OPPAGA shall submit a report of its
1164 findings to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the
1165 House of Representatives by December 15, 2028, and every 5 years
1166 thereafter.
1167 Section 11. Section 288.014, Florida Statutes, is created
1168 to read:
1169 288.014 Renaissance Grants Program.—
1170 (1) The Legislature finds that it has historically provided
1171 programs to assist rural communities with economic development
1172 and to enhance their ability to attract businesses and that, by
1173 providing that extra component of economic viability, rural
1174 communities are able to attract new businesses and grow existing
1175 ones. However, the Legislature further finds that a subset of
1176 rural communities has decreased in population over the past
1177 decade, contributing to a decline in local business activity and
1178 economic development. The Legislature therefore determines that
1179 state assistance must evolve to support these communities in
1180 achieving the foundation necessary for economic viability. The
1181 intent of the Renaissance Grants Program is to reverse economic
1182 deterioration in such rural communities by retaining and
1183 attracting residents by giving them a reason to stay, which will
1184 stimulate natural economic growth, business opportunities, and
1185 improved quality of life.
1186 (2) The Office of Rural Prosperity within the department
1187 shall administer the Renaissance Grants Program to provide block
1188 grants to eligible counties. By October 1, 2026, the Office of
1189 Economic and Demographic Research shall certify to the Office of
1190 Rural Prosperity which counties are growth-impeded. For the
1191 purposes of this section, the term “growth-impeded” means a
1192 county that, as of the most recent population estimate, has
1193 experienced a declining population over the previous 10 years.
1194 After the initial certification, the Office of Economic and
1195 Demographic Research shall annually certify whether the county
1196 remains growth-impeded, until the office certifies the county
1197 has had 3 consecutive years of population growth. Upon such
1198 certification of population growth, the county remains eligible
1199 for the program for 1 additional year to prepare for the end of
1200 block grant funding.
1201 (3)(a) Each participating county shall enter into an
1202 agreement with the Office of Rural Prosperity to receive block
1203 grant funds. Counties have broad authority to design their
1204 specific plan to achieve population growth consistent with this
1205 section. The Office of Rural Prosperity may not determine the
1206 manner in which a county implements its plan. However, regional
1207 rural community liaison center staff shall provide assistance in
1208 developing the county’s plan, upon the county’s request.
1209 (b) Each participating county shall submit an annual report
1210 to the Office of Rural Prosperity detailing program activities,
1211 intergovernmental agreements, and other information as required
1212 by the office.
1213 (c) Each participating county shall receive $1 million from
1214 the funds appropriated to the program, or an equal share of the
1215 funds appropriated if insufficient to provide that amount.
1216 Counties shall make all attempts to limit expenses for
1217 administrative costs, consistent with the need for prudent
1218 management and accountability in the use of public funds.
1219 Counties may supplement the block grant with other funding
1220 sources, including local, state, or federal grants, and may seek
1221 public or private contributions or in-kind support to advance
1222 program activities.
1223 (4)(a) Each participating county shall hire and retain a
1224 renaissance coordinator, who may be funded from block grant
1225 proceeds. The renaissance coordinator is responsible for:
1226 1. Ensuring that block grant funds are used as provided in
1227 this section;
1228 2. Coordinating with other local governments, school
1229 boards, Florida College System institutions, and other partners;
1230 and
1231 3. Reporting as necessary to the state, including
1232 information necessary pursuant to subsection (7).
1233 (b) The Office of Rural Prosperity regional rural community
1234 liaison center staff shall, upon request, provide assistance and
1235 training to the renaissance coordinator to support successful
1236 implementation of the block grant.
1237 (5) Each participating county shall design a plan for
1238 targeted community investments designed to achieve population
1239 growth and increase the economic vitality. The plan must include
1240 the following key features for use of the state support:
1241 (a) Technology centers located within schools or on school
1242 premises, administered by the local school board, providing
1243 extended hours and access for students.
1244 (b) Facilities that colocate adult day care with child care
1245 facilities. The site-sharing facilities must be managed to also
1246 encourage interaction between generations and increase the
1247 health and well-being of younger and older participants, reduce
1248 social isolation, and create cost and time efficiencies for
1249 working families. The regional rural community liaison center
1250 staff of the Office of Rural Prosperity shall, upon request,
1251 assist the county with bringing recommendations to the Rural
1252 Economic Development Initiative or the appropriate state agency
1253 to streamline all required state permits, licenses, regulations,
1254 or other requirements.
1255 (c) Technology labs operated in partnership with the
1256 nearest Florida College System institution or a career center
1257 under s. 1001.44. Repurposed vacant industrial sites or existing
1258 office space must be given priority in the selection of lab
1259 locations. Each local technology lab must be staffed and open
1260 for extended hours with the capacity to provide:
1261 1. Access to trainers and equipment necessary for earning
1262 certificates or online degrees in technology;
1263 2. Hands-on assistance in securing remote work
1264 opportunities; and
1265 3. Studio space equipped for remote technology-based work
1266 available for graduates and other qualifying residents.
1267 Participating counties may determine which residents receive
1268 priority access. Collaboration with community partners,
1269 including the local workforce development board as described in
1270 s. 445.007, to provide training opportunities, in-kind support
1271 such as transportation to and from the lab, financing of
1272 equipment for in-home use, or basic maintenance of such
1273 equipment is required.
1274 (6) In addition to hiring a renaissance coordinator, each
1275 participating county shall develop intergovernmental agreements
1276 for shared responsibilities with its municipalities, school
1277 board, and Florida College System institution or career center
1278 and enter into necessary contracts with providers and community
1279 partners in order to implement the plan.
1280 (7)(a) Every 2 years, beginning in 2027, the Auditor
1281 General shall conduct an operational audit as defined in s.
1282 11.45 of each county’s grant activities.
1283 (b) On December 15, 2027, and every year thereafter, the
1284 Office of Economic and Demographic Research shall submit a
1285 report to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the
1286 House of Representatives summarizing renaissance block grant
1287 recipients by county. The report must provide key economic
1288 indicators that measure progress in reversing long-term trends
1289 in the county. The Office of Rural Prosperity shall, upon
1290 request, provide any data necessary to complete the report.
1291 (8) Notwithstanding s. 216.301, funds appropriated for the
1292 purposes of this section are not subject to reversion.
1293 (9) This section expires June 30, 2041.
1294 Section 12. Section 288.0175, Florida Statutes, is created
1295 to read:
1296 288.0175 Public Infrastructure Smart Technology Grant
1297 Program.—
1298 (1) The Public Infrastructure Smart Technology Grant
1299 Program is established within the Office of Rural Prosperity
1300 within the department to fund and support public infrastructure
1301 smart technology projects in communities located in rural areas
1302 of opportunity, subject to legislative appropriation.
1303 (2) As used in this section, the term:
1304 (a) “Public infrastructure smart technology” means systems
1305 or applications that use connectivity, data analytics, or
1306 automation to improve public infrastructure by increasing
1307 efficiency, enhancing public services, and promoting sustainable
1308 development.
1309 (b) “Rural area of opportunity” has the same meaning as in
1310 s. 288.0656.
1311 (c) “Smart region” means a geographic area that uses
1312 technology and innovative ideas to improve the quality of life
1313 for its citizens by addressing regional challenges through
1314 collaboration among government, businesses, and communities.
1315 (d) “Smart technology lead organization” means a not-for
1316 profit corporation organized under s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal
1317 Revenue Code which has been in existence for at least 3 years
1318 and specializes in smart region planning.
1319 (3)(a) The Office of Rural Prosperity shall contract with
1320 one or more smart technology lead organizations to administer
1321 the grant program for the purpose of deploying public
1322 infrastructure smart technology in rural communities. Under such
1323 contracts, the smart technology lead organization shall award
1324 grants to counties and municipalities located within a rural
1325 area of opportunity for eligible public infrastructure smart
1326 technology projects.
1327 (b) Each contract must specify deliverables, reporting
1328 requirements, timeframes, and any other term the office deems
1329 necessary. At a minimum, the contract must require the smart
1330 technology lead organization to:
1331 1. Collaborate with counties and municipalities in rural
1332 areas of opportunity to identify cost-effective smart technology
1333 solutions for improving public services and infrastructure.
1334 2. Provide technical assistance to counties and
1335 municipalities located in rural areas of opportunity in
1336 developing public infrastructure smart technology project plans.
1337 3. Facilitate connections between rural communities and
1338 other entities, including companies and regional partners to
1339 maximize the impact of funded projects.
1340 (4) The Office of Rural Prosperity shall include a summary
1341 of projects funded under this section in its annual report
1342 required by s. 288.013(6).
1343 Section 13. Subsections (1), (2), and (4) of section
1344 288.018, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
1345 288.018 Regional Rural Development Grants Program.—
1346 (1)(a) For the purposes of this section, the term “regional
1347 economic development organization” means an economic development
1348 organization located in or contracted to serve a rural area of
1349 opportunity, as defined in s. 288.0656 s. 288.0656(2)(d).
1350 (b) Subject to appropriation, the Office of Rural
1351 Prosperity department shall establish a grant program to provide
1352 funding to regional economic development organizations for the
1353 purpose of building the professional capacity of those
1354 organizations. Building the professional capacity of a regional
1355 economic development organization includes hiring professional
1356 staff to develop, deliver, and provide needed economic
1357 development professional services, including technical
1358 assistance, education and leadership development, marketing, and
1359 project recruitment. Grants may also be used by a regional
1360 economic development organization to provide technical
1361 assistance to local governments, local economic development
1362 organizations, and existing and prospective businesses.
1363 (c) A regional economic development organization may apply
1364 annually to the office department for a grant. The office
1365 department is authorized to approve, on an annual basis, grants
1366 to such regional economic development organizations. The office
1367 may award a maximum amount of $50,000 in a year to an
1368 organization may receive in any year will be $50,000, or
1369 $250,000 each to for any three regional economic development
1370 organizations that serve an entire region of a rural area of
1371 opportunity designated pursuant to s. 288.0656(7) if they are
1372 recognized by the office department as serving such a region.
1373 (2) In approving the participants, the office department
1374 shall require the following:
1375 (a) Documentation of official commitments of support from
1376 each of the units of local government represented by the
1377 regional organization.
1378 (b) Demonstration that the organization is in existence and
1379 actively involved in economic development activities serving the
1380 region.
1381 (c) Demonstration of the manner in which the organization
1382 is or will coordinate its efforts with those of other local and
1383 state organizations.
1384 (4) Except as otherwise provided in the General
1385 Appropriations Act, the office department may expend up to
1386 $750,000 each fiscal year from funds appropriated to the Rural
1387 Community Development Revolving Loan Fund for the purposes
1388 outlined in this section.
1389 Section 14. Section 288.019, Florida Statutes, is amended
1390 to read:
1391 288.019 Rural considerations in grant review and evaluation
1392 processes; financial match waiver or reduction.—
1393 (1) Notwithstanding any other law, and to the fullest
1394 extent possible, each agency and organization the member
1395 agencies and organizations of the Rural Economic Development
1396 Initiative (REDI) as defined in s. 288.0656 s. 288.0656(6)(a)
1397 shall review:
1398 (a) All grant and loan application evaluation criteria and
1399 scoring procedures to ensure the fullest access for rural
1400 communities counties as defined in s. 288.0656 s. 288.0656(2) to
1401 resources available throughout this the state; and
1402 (b) The financial match requirements for projects in rural
1403 communities.
1404 (2)(1) Each REDI agency and organization shall consider the
1405 impact on and ability of rural communities to meet and be
1406 competitive under such criteria, scoring, and requirements. Upon
1407 review, each REDI agency and organization shall review all
1408 evaluation and scoring procedures and develop a proposal for
1409 modifications to those procedures which minimize the financial
1410 and resource impact to a rural community, including waiver or
1411 reduction of any required financial match requirements impact of
1412 a project within a rural area.
1413 (a)(2) Evaluation criteria and scoring procedures must
1414 provide for an appropriate ranking, when ranking is a component
1415 of the program, based on the proportionate impact that projects
1416 have on a rural area when compared with similar project impacts
1417 on an urban area. Additionally,
1418 (3) evaluation criteria and scoring procedures must
1419 recognize the disparity of available fiscal resources for an
1420 equal level of financial support from an urban county or
1421 municipality and a rural county or municipality.
1422 (a) The evaluation criteria must should weight contribution
1423 in proportion to the amount of funding available at the local
1424 level.
1425 (b) Match requirements must be waived or reduced for rural
1426 communities. When appropriate, an in-kind match must should be
1427 allowed and applied as a financial match when a rural community
1428 county is experiencing economic financial distress as defined in
1429 s. 288.0656 through elevated unemployment at a rate in excess of
1430 the state’s average by 5 percentage points or because of the
1431 loss of its ad valorem base. Donations of land, though usually
1432 not recognized as an in-kind match, may be treated as such. As
1433 appropriate, each agency and organization that applies for or
1434 receives federal funding must request federal approval to waive
1435 or reduce the financial match requirements, if any, for projects
1436 in rural communities.
1437 (3)(4) For existing programs, The proposal developed under
1438 subsection (2) modified evaluation criteria and scoring
1439 procedure must be submitted delivered to the Office of Rural
1440 Prosperity department for distribution to the REDI agencies and
1441 organizations. The REDI agencies and organizations shall review
1442 and make comments and recommendations that. Future rules,
1443 programs, evaluation criteria, and scoring processes must be
1444 brought before a REDI meeting for review, discussion, and
1445 recommendation to allow rural communities counties fuller access
1446 to the state’s resources.
1447 (4) Each REDI agency and organization shall ensure that
1448 related administrative rules or policies are modified, as
1449 necessary, to reflect the finalized proposal and that
1450 information about the authorized waiver or reduction is included
1451 in the online rural resource directory of the Office of Rural
1452 Prosperity required in s. 288.013(4)(d).
1453 (5) The rural liaison from the related regional rural
1454 community liaison center district shall assist the rural
1455 community to make waiver or reduction requests.
1456 Section 15. Subsection (3) is added to section 288.021,
1457 Florida Statutes, to read:
1458 288.021 Economic development liaison.—
1459 (3) When practicable, the staff member appointed as the
1460 economic development liaison shall also serve as the agency
1461 representative for the Rural Economic Development Initiative
1462 pursuant to s. 288.0656.
1463 Section 16. Section 288.065, Florida Statutes, is amended
1464 to read:
1465 288.065 Rural Community Development Revolving Loan Fund.—
1466 (1) The Rural Community Development Revolving Loan Fund
1467 Program is established within the Office of Rural Prosperity
1468 department to facilitate the use of existing federal, state, and
1469 local financial resources by providing local governments with
1470 financial assistance to further promote the economic viability
1471 of rural communities. These funds may be used to finance
1472 initiatives directed toward maintaining or developing the
1473 economic base of rural communities, especially initiatives
1474 addressing employment opportunities for residents of these
1475 communities.
1476 (2)(a) The program shall provide for long-term loans, loan
1477 guarantees, and loan loss reserves to units of local
1478 governments, or economic development organizations substantially
1479 underwritten by a unit of local government.,
1480 (b) For purposes of this section, the term “unit of local
1481 government” means any of the following:
1482 1. A county within counties with a population populations
1483 of 75,000 or less. fewer, or within any
1484 2. A county with a population of 125,000 or less fewer
1485 which is contiguous to a county with a population of 75,000 or
1486 less. fewer
1487 3. A municipality within a county described in subparagraph
1488 1. or subparagraph 2.
1489 4. A county or municipality within a rural area of
1490 opportunity designated under s. 288.0656.
1491
1492 For purposes of this paragraph, population is determined in
1493 accordance with the most recent official estimates pursuant to
1494 s. 186.901 and must include those residing in incorporated and
1495 unincorporated areas of a county, based on the most recent
1496 official population estimate as determined under s. 186.901,
1497 including those residing in incorporated areas and those
1498 residing in unincorporated areas of the county, or to units of
1499 local government, or economic development organizations
1500 substantially underwritten by a unit of local government, within
1501 a rural area of opportunity.
1502 (c)(b) Requests for loans must shall be made by application
1503 to the office department. Loans must shall be made pursuant to
1504 agreements specifying the terms and conditions agreed to between
1505 the applicant and the office department. The loans are shall be
1506 the legal obligations of the applicant.
1507 (d)(c) All repayments of principal and interest must shall
1508 be returned to the loan fund and made available for loans to
1509 other applicants. However, in a rural area of opportunity
1510 designated under s. 288.0656 by the Governor, and upon approval
1511 by the office department, repayments of principal and interest
1512 may be retained by the applicant if such repayments are
1513 dedicated and matched to fund regionally based economic
1514 development organizations representing the rural area of
1515 opportunity.
1516 (3) The office department shall manage the fund,
1517 establishing loan practices that must include, but are not
1518 limited to, procedures for establishing loan interest rates,
1519 uses of funding, application procedures, and application review
1520 procedures. The office has department shall have final approval
1521 authority for any loan under this section.
1522 (4) Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 216.301, funds
1523 appropriated for this loan fund may purpose shall not be subject
1524 to reversion.
1525 (5) The office shall include in its annual report required
1526 under s. 288.013 detailed information about the fund, including
1527 loans made during the previous fiscal year, loans active, loans
1528 terminated or repaid, and the amount of funds not obligated as
1529 of 14 days before the date the report is due.
1530 Section 17. Subsections (1), (2), and (3) of section
1531 288.0655, Florida Statutes, are amended, and subsection (6) is
1532 added to that section, to read:
1533 288.0655 Rural Infrastructure Fund.—
1534 (1) There is created within the Office of Rural Prosperity
1535 department the Rural Infrastructure Fund to facilitate the
1536 planning, preparing, and financing of infrastructure projects in
1537 rural communities which will encourage job creation, capital
1538 investment, and the strengthening and diversification of rural
1539 economies by promoting tourism, trade, and economic development.
1540 Grants under this program may be awarded to a unit of local
1541 government within a rural area of opportunity or a rural
1542 community as those terms are defined in s. 288.0656 or to a
1543 regional economic development organization, a unit of local
1544 government, or an economic development organization
1545 substantially underwritten by a unit of local government for an
1546 infrastructure project located within an unincorporated area
1547 that has a population of 15,000 or less, has been in existence
1548 for 100 years or more, is contiguous to a rural community, and
1549 has been adversely affected by a natural disaster or presents a
1550 unique economic development opportunity of regional impact.
1551 (2)(a) Funds appropriated by the Legislature must shall be
1552 distributed by the office department through grant programs that
1553 maximize the use of federal, local, and private resources,
1554 including, but not limited to, those available under the Small
1555 Cities Community Development Block Grant Program.
1556 (b) To facilitate access of rural communities and rural
1557 areas of opportunity as defined by the Rural Economic
1558 Development Initiative to infrastructure funding programs of the
1559 Federal Government, such as those offered by the United States
1560 Department of Agriculture and the United States Department of
1561 Commerce, and state programs, including those offered by Rural
1562 Economic Development Initiative agencies, and to facilitate
1563 local government or private infrastructure funding efforts, the
1564 office department may award grants for up to 75 percent of the
1565 total infrastructure project cost, or up to 100 percent of the
1566 total infrastructure project cost for a project located in a
1567 rural community as defined in s. 288.0656(2) which is also
1568 located in a fiscally constrained county as defined in s.
1569 218.67(1) or a rural area of opportunity as defined in s.
1570 288.0656(2). Eligible uses of funds may include improving any
1571 inadequate infrastructure that has resulted in regulatory action
1572 that prohibits economic or community growth and reducing the
1573 costs to community users of proposed infrastructure improvements
1574 that exceed such costs in comparable communities. Eligible uses
1575 of funds include improvements to public infrastructure for
1576 industrial or commercial sites and upgrades to or development of
1577 public tourism infrastructure. Authorized infrastructure may
1578 include the following public or public-private partnership
1579 facilities: storm water systems; telecommunications facilities;
1580 roads or other remedies to transportation impediments; nature
1581 based tourism facilities; or other physical requirements
1582 necessary to facilitate tourism, trade, and economic development
1583 activities in the community. Authorized infrastructure may also
1584 include publicly or privately owned self-powered nature-based
1585 tourism facilities, publicly owned telecommunications
1586 facilities, and additions to the distribution facilities of the
1587 existing natural gas utility as defined in s. 366.04(3)(c), the
1588 existing electric utility as defined in s. 366.02, or the
1589 existing water or wastewater utility as defined in s.
1590 367.021(12), or any other existing water or wastewater facility,
1591 which owns a gas or electric distribution system or a water or
1592 wastewater system in this state when:
1593 1. A contribution-in-aid of construction is required to
1594 serve public or public-private partnership facilities under the
1595 tariffs of any natural gas, electric, water, or wastewater
1596 utility as defined herein; and
1597 2. Such utilities as defined herein are willing and able to
1598 provide such service.
1599 (c) The office department may award grants of up to
1600 $300,000 for infrastructure feasibility studies, design and
1601 engineering activities, or other infrastructure planning and
1602 preparation or site readiness activities. Site readiness
1603 expenses may include clearing title, surveys, permitting,
1604 environmental studies, and regulatory compliance costs. Grants
1605 awarded under this paragraph may be used in conjunction with
1606 grants awarded under paragraph (b). In evaluating applications
1607 under this paragraph, the office department shall consider the
1608 extent to which the application seeks to minimize administrative
1609 and consultant expenses.
1610 (d) The office department shall participate in a memorandum
1611 of agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture
1612 under which state funds available through the Rural
1613 Infrastructure Fund may be advanced, in excess of the prescribed
1614 state share, for a project that has received from the United
1615 States Department of Agriculture a preliminary determination of
1616 eligibility for federal financial support. State funds in excess
1617 of the prescribed state share which are advanced pursuant to
1618 this paragraph and the memorandum of agreement must shall be
1619 reimbursed when funds are awarded under an application for
1620 federal funding.
1621 (e) To enable local governments to access the resources
1622 available pursuant to s. 403.973(17), the office department may
1623 award grants for surveys, feasibility studies, and other
1624 activities related to the identification and preclearance review
1625 of land which is suitable for preclearance review. Authorized
1626 grants under this paragraph may not exceed $75,000 each, except
1627 in the case of a project in a rural area of opportunity, in
1628 which case the grant may not exceed $300,000. Any funds awarded
1629 under this paragraph must be matched at a level of 50 percent
1630 with local funds, except that any funds awarded for a project in
1631 a rural area of opportunity do not require a match of local
1632 funds. If an application for funding is for a catalyst site, as
1633 defined in s. 288.0656, the requirement for local match may be
1634 waived pursuant to the process in s. 288.06561. In evaluating
1635 applications under this paragraph, the office department shall
1636 consider the extent to which the application seeks to minimize
1637 administrative and consultant expenses.
1638 (3) The office department, in consultation with the
1639 Department of Transportation Florida Tourism Industry Marketing
1640 Corporation, the Department of Environmental Protection, and the
1641 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, as
1642 appropriate, shall review and certify applications pursuant to
1643 s. 288.061. The review must include an evaluation of the
1644 economic benefit and long-term viability. The office has
1645 department shall have final approval for any grant under this
1646 section.
1647 (6) The office shall include in its annual report required
1648 under s. 288.013 detailed information about the fund, including
1649 grants made for the year, grants active, grants terminated or
1650 complete, and the amount of funds not obligated as of 14 days
1651 before the date the report is due.
1652 Section 18. Subsection (1), paragraphs (a), (b), and (e) of
1653 subsection (2), subsections (3) and (6), paragraphs (b) and (c)
1654 of subsection (7), and subsection (8) of section 288.0656,
1655 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
1656 288.0656 Rural Economic Development Initiative.—
1657 (1)(a) Recognizing that rural communities and regions
1658 continue to face extraordinary challenges in their efforts to
1659 significantly improve their economies, specifically in terms of
1660 personal income, job creation, average wages, and strong tax
1661 bases, it is the intent of the Legislature to encourage and
1662 facilitate the location and expansion of major economic
1663 development projects of significant scale in such rural
1664 communities. The Legislature finds that rural communities are
1665 the essential conduits for the economy’s distribution supply,
1666 manufacturing supply, and food supply.
1667 (b) The Rural Economic Development Initiative, known as
1668 “REDI,” is created within the Office of Rural Prosperity
1669 department, and all the participation of state and regional
1670 agencies listed in paragraph (6)(a) shall participate in this
1671 initiative is authorized.
1672 (2) As used in this section, the term:
1673 (a) “Catalyst project” means a business locating or
1674 expanding in a rural area of opportunity to serve as an economic
1675 generator of regional significance for the growth of a regional
1676 target industry cluster. The project must provide capital
1677 investment on a scale significant enough to affect the entire
1678 region and result in the development of high-wage and high-skill
1679 jobs.
1680 (b) “Catalyst site” means a parcel or parcels of land
1681 within a rural area of opportunity that has been prioritized as
1682 a geographic site for economic development through partnerships
1683 with state, regional, and local organizations. The site must be
1684 reviewed by REDI and approved by the department for the purposes
1685 of locating a catalyst project.
1686 (c)(e) “Rural community” means:
1687 1. A county with a population of 75,000 or less fewer.
1688 2. A county with a population of 125,000 or less fewer
1689 which is contiguous to a county with a population of 75,000 or
1690 less fewer.
1691 3. A municipality within a county described in subparagraph
1692 1. or subparagraph 2.
1693 4. An unincorporated federal enterprise community or an
1694 incorporated rural city with a population of 25,000 or less
1695 fewer and an employment base focused on traditional agricultural
1696 or resource-based industries, located in a county not defined as
1697 rural, which has at least three or more of the economic distress
1698 factors identified in paragraph (a) (c) and verified by the
1699 Office of Rural Prosperity department.
1700
1701 For purposes of this paragraph, population must shall be
1702 determined in accordance with the most recent official estimate
1703 pursuant to s. 186.901.
1704 (3) REDI shall be responsible for coordinating and focusing
1705 the efforts and resources of state and regional agencies on the
1706 problems which affect the fiscal, economic, and community
1707 viability of Florida’s economically distressed rural
1708 communities, working with local governments, community-based
1709 organizations, and private organizations that have an interest
1710 in the growth and development of these communities to find ways
1711 to balance environmental and growth management issues with local
1712 needs.
1713 (6)(a) By August 1 of each year, the head of each of the
1714 following agencies and organizations shall designate a deputy
1715 secretary or higher-level staff person from within the agency or
1716 organization to serve as the REDI representative for the agency
1717 or organization:
1718 1. The Department of Transportation.
1719 2. The Department of Environmental Protection.
1720 3. The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
1721 4. The Department of State.
1722 5. The Department of Health.
1723 6. The Department of Children and Families.
1724 7. The Department of Corrections.
1725 8. The Department of Education.
1726 9. The Department of Juvenile Justice.
1727 10. The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
1728 11. Each water management district.
1729 12. CareerSource Florida, Inc.
1730 13. VISIT Florida.
1731 14. The Florida Regional Planning Council Association.
1732 15. The Agency for Health Care Administration.
1733 16. The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS).
1734 (b) An alternate for each designee must shall also be
1735 chosen, who must also be a deputy secretary or higher-level
1736 staff person, and the names of the designees and alternates must
1737 shall be reported sent to the director of the Office of Rural
1738 Prosperity. At least one rural liaison from each regional rural
1739 community liaison center must participate in the REDI meetings
1740 Secretary of Commerce.
1741 (c) REDI shall meet at least each month but may meet more
1742 frequently if necessary. Each REDI representative, or his or her
1743 designee, shall be physically present or available by means of
1744 electronic communication for each meeting.
1745 (d)(b) Each REDI representative shall must have
1746 comprehensive knowledge of his or her agency’s functions, both
1747 regulatory and service in nature, and of the state’s economic
1748 goals, policies, and programs. This person shall be the primary
1749 point of contact for his or her agency with REDI on issues and
1750 projects relating to economically distressed rural communities
1751 and with regard to expediting project review, shall ensure a
1752 prompt effective response to problems arising with regard to
1753 rural issues, and shall work closely with the other REDI
1754 representatives in the identification of opportunities for
1755 preferential awards of program funds, contractual or other
1756 agreement provisions which meet the requirements of s. 215.971,
1757 and allowances and waiver of program requirements when necessary
1758 to encourage and facilitate rural growth, including, but not
1759 limited to, long-term private capital investment and job
1760 creation.
1761 (e)(c) The REDI representatives shall work with REDI in the
1762 review and evaluation of statutes and rules for adverse impact
1763 on rural communities and the development of alternative
1764 proposals to mitigate that impact.
1765 (f)(d) Each REDI representative shall be responsible for
1766 ensuring that each district office or facility of his or her
1767 agency is informed quarterly about the Rural Economic
1768 Development Initiative and for providing assistance throughout
1769 the agency in the implementation of REDI activities.
1770 (7)
1771 (b) Designation as a rural area of opportunity under this
1772 subsection is shall be contingent upon the execution of a
1773 memorandum of agreement among the Office of Rural Prosperity
1774 department; the governing body of the county; and the governing
1775 bodies of any municipalities to be included within a rural area
1776 of opportunity. Such agreement must shall specify the terms and
1777 conditions of the designation, including, but not limited to,
1778 the duties and responsibilities of the county and any
1779 participating municipalities to take actions designed to
1780 facilitate the retention and expansion of existing businesses in
1781 the area, as well as the recruitment of new businesses to the
1782 area.
1783 (c) Each rural area of opportunity may designate catalyst
1784 projects, provided that each catalyst project is specifically
1785 recommended by REDI and confirmed as a catalyst project by the
1786 department. All state agencies and departments shall use all
1787 available tools and resources to the extent permissible by law
1788 to promote the creation and development of each catalyst project
1789 and the development of catalyst sites.
1790 (8) REDI shall submit a report to the Office of Rural
1791 Prosperity department on all REDI activities for the previous
1792 fiscal year as a supplement to the office’s department’s annual
1793 report required under s. 288.013 s. 20.60. This supplementary
1794 report must include:
1795 (a) A status report on every project all projects currently
1796 being coordinated through REDI;, the number of preferential
1797 awards and allowances made pursuant to this section in detail by
1798 award, allowance, or match type;, the dollar amount of such
1799 awards;, and the names of the recipients.
1800 (b) A description of all waivers of program requirements
1801 granted, including a list by program of each waiver that was
1802 granted. If waivers were requested but were not granted, a list
1803 of ungranted waivers, including reasons why the waivers were not
1804 granted, must be included.
1805 (c) Detailed information as to the economic impact of the
1806 projects coordinated by REDI.
1807 (d) Recommendations based on the review and evaluation of
1808 statutes and rules having an adverse impact on rural communities
1809 and proposals to mitigate such adverse impacts.
1810 (e) Legislative recommendations for statutory waivers or
1811 reductions of specified economic development or other program
1812 requirements, including financial match waivers or reductions,
1813 for applicants within rural areas of opportunity.
1814 (f) Outcomes of proposals submitted pursuant to s. 288.019.
1815 Section 19. Section 288.06561, Florida Statutes, is
1816 repealed.
1817 Section 20. Subsections (2), (3), and (4) of section
1818 288.0657, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
1819 288.0657 Florida rural economic development strategy
1820 grants.—
1821 (2) The Office of Rural Prosperity shall provide department
1822 may accept and administer moneys appropriated to the department
1823 for providing grants to assist rural communities to develop and
1824 implement strategic economic development plans. Grants may be
1825 provided to assist with costs associated with marketing a site
1826 to business and site selectors for an economic development
1827 project that is part of an economic development plan, either as
1828 part of funding to develop and implement a plan or related to an
1829 already adopted plan.
1830 (3) A rural community, an economic development organization
1831 in a rural area, or a regional organization representing at
1832 least one rural community or such economic development
1833 organizations may apply for such grants. The rural liaison for
1834 the rural community shall assist those applying for such grants.
1835 (4) The office department shall establish criteria for
1836 reviewing grant applications. These criteria must shall include,
1837 but are not limited to, the degree of participation and
1838 commitment by the local community and the application’s
1839 consistency with local comprehensive plans or the application’s
1840 proposal to ensure such consistency. Grants for marketing may
1841 include funding for advertising campaign materials and costs
1842 associated with meetings, trade missions, and professional
1843 development related to site preparation and marketing. The
1844 office department shall review each application for a grant. The
1845 department may approve grants only to the extent that funds are
1846 appropriated for such grants by the Legislature.
1847 Section 21. Paragraph (a) of subsection (13) of section
1848 288.1226, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1849 288.1226 Florida Tourism Industry Marketing Corporation;
1850 use of property; board of directors; duties; audit.—
1851 (13) FOUR-YEAR MARKETING PLAN.—
1852 (a) The corporation shall, in collaboration with the
1853 department, develop a 4-year marketing plan. At a minimum, the
1854 marketing plan must discuss the following:
1855 1. Continuation of overall tourism growth in this state.
1856 2. Expansion to new or under-represented tourist markets.
1857 3. Maintenance of traditional and loyal tourist markets.
1858 4. Coordination of efforts with county destination
1859 marketing organizations, other local government marketing
1860 groups, privately owned attractions and destinations, and other
1861 private sector partners to create a seamless, four-season
1862 advertising campaign for the state and its regions.
1863 5. Development of innovative techniques or promotions to
1864 build repeat visitation by targeted segments of the tourist
1865 population.
1866 6. Consideration of innovative sources of state funding for
1867 tourism marketing.
1868 7. Promotion of nature-based tourism, including, but not
1869 limited to, promotion of the Florida Greenways and Trails System
1870 as described under s. 260.014 and the Florida Shared-Use
1871 Nonmotorized Trail Network as described under s. 339.81.
1872 8. Coordination of efforts with the Office of Greenways and
1873 Trails of the Department of Environmental Protection and the
1874 department to promote and assist local communities, including,
1875 but not limited to, communities designated as trail towns by the
1876 Office of Greenways and Trails, to maximize use of nearby trails
1877 as economic assets, including specific promotion of trail-based
1878 tourism.
1879 9. Promotion of heritage tourism.
1880 10. Development of a component to address emergency
1881 response to natural and manmade disasters from a marketing
1882 standpoint.
1883 11. Provision of appropriate marketing assistance resources
1884 to small, rural, and agritourism businesses located in this
1885 state. Such resources may include, but are not limited to,
1886 marketing plans, marketing assistance, promotional support,
1887 media development, technical expertise, marketing advice,
1888 technology training, and social marketing support.
1889 Section 22. Section 288.12266, Florida Statutes, is
1890 repealed.
1891 Section 23. Paragraph (f) of subsection (2) and paragraphs
1892 (a), (b), and (c) of subsection (4) of section 288.9961, Florida
1893 Statutes, are amended, and subsection (6) is added to that
1894 section, to read:
1895 288.9961 Promotion of broadband adoption; Florida Office of
1896 Broadband.—
1897 (2) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term:
1898 (f) “Underserved” means a geographic area of this state in
1899 which there is no provider of broadband Internet service that
1900 offers a connection to the Internet with a capacity for
1901 transmission at a consistent speed of at least 100 megabits per
1902 second downstream and at least 20 10 megabits per second
1903 upstream.
1904 (4) FLORIDA OFFICE OF BROADBAND.—The Florida Office of
1905 Broadband is created within the Division of Community
1906 Development in the department for the purpose of developing,
1907 marketing, and promoting broadband Internet services in this
1908 state. The office, in the performance of its duties, shall do
1909 all of the following:
1910 (a) Create a strategic plan that has goals and strategies
1911 for increasing and improving the availability of, access to, and
1912 use of broadband Internet service in this state. In development
1913 of the plan, the department shall incorporate applicable federal
1914 broadband activities, including any efforts or initiatives of
1915 the Federal Communications Commission, to improve broadband
1916 Internet service in this state. The plan must identify available
1917 federal funding sources for the expansion or improvement of
1918 broadband. The strategic plan must be submitted to the Governor,
1919 the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
1920 Representatives by June 30, 2022. The strategic plan must be
1921 updated biennially thereafter. The plan must include a process
1922 to review and verify public input regarding transmission speeds
1923 and availability of broadband Internet service throughout this
1924 state. The office shall consult with each regional rural
1925 community liaison center within the Office of Rural Prosperity
1926 on the development and update of the plan.
1927 (b) Build and facilitate local technology planning teams or
1928 partnerships with members representing cross-sections of the
1929 community, which may include, but are not limited to,
1930 representatives from the following organizations and industries:
1931 libraries, K-12 education, colleges and universities, local
1932 health care providers, private businesses, community
1933 organizations, economic development organizations, local
1934 governments, tourism, parks and recreation, and agriculture. The
1935 local technology planning teams or partnerships shall work with
1936 rural communities to help the communities understand their
1937 current broadband availability, locate unserved and underserved
1938 businesses and residents, identify assets relevant to broadband
1939 deployment, build partnerships with broadband service providers,
1940 and identify opportunities to leverage assets and reduce
1941 barriers to the deployment of broadband Internet services in the
1942 community. The teams or partnerships must be proactive in rural
1943 communities as defined in s. 288.0656 fiscally constrained
1944 counties in identifying and providing assistance, in
1945 coordination with the regional rural community liaison centers
1946 within the Office of Rural Prosperity, with applying for federal
1947 grants for broadband Internet service.
1948 (c) Provide technical and planning assistance to rural
1949 communities in coordination with the regional rural community
1950 liaison centers within the Office of Rural Prosperity.
1951 (6) BROADBAND REPORTING.—
1952 (a) The office shall submit to the Governor, the President
1953 of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives a
1954 quarterly report detailing the implementation of broadband
1955 activities in rural, unserved, and underserved communities. Such
1956 information must be listed by county and include the amount of
1957 state and federal funds allocated to and expended in the county
1958 by program; the progress toward deploying broadband in the
1959 county; any technical assistance provided; the activities of the
1960 local technology planning teams and partnerships; and the
1961 fulfillment of all other duties of the office required by this
1962 part.
1963 (b) By December 31 of each year, the office shall submit to
1964 the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of
1965 the House of Representatives an annual report on the office’s
1966 operations and accomplishments for that calendar year and the
1967 status of broadband Internet service access and use in this
1968 state. The report must also incorporate the quarterly reports on
1969 rural, unserved, and underserved communities required by
1970 paragraph (a).
1971 Section 24. Section 290.06561, Florida Statutes, is
1972 repealed.
1973 Section 25. Paragraph (a) of subsection (5) of section
1974 319.32, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1975 319.32 Fees; service charges; disposition.—
1976 (5)(a) Forty-seven dollars of each fee collected, except
1977 for fees charged on a certificate of title for a motor vehicle
1978 for hire registered under s. 320.08(6), for each applicable
1979 original certificate of title and each applicable duplicate copy
1980 of a certificate of title shall be deposited as follows: into
1981 the State Transportation Trust Fund. Deposits to the State
1982 Transportation Trust Fund pursuant to this paragraph may not
1983 exceed $200 million in any fiscal year, and from any collections
1984 in excess of that amount during the fiscal year,
1985 1. The first $30 million collected shall be deposited into
1986 the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund;, and
1987 2. Any remaining collections shall be paid into the State
1988 Transportation Trust General Revenue Fund.
1989 Section 26. Subsection (40) is added to section 334.044,
1990 Florida Statutes, to read:
1991 334.044 Powers and duties of the department.—The department
1992 shall have the following general powers and duties:
1993 (40) To provide technical assistance and support from the
1994 appropriate district of the department to counties that are not
1995 located in a metropolitan planning organization created pursuant
1996 to s. 339.175.
1997 Section 27. Section 339.0801, Florida Statutes, is amended
1998 to read:
1999 339.0801 Allocation of increased revenues derived from
2000 amendments to s. 319.32(5)(a) by ch. 2012-128.—
2001 (1) The first $200 million of funds that result from
2002 increased revenues to the State Transportation Trust Fund
2003 derived from the amendments to s. 319.32(5)(a) made by s. 11,
2004 chapter 2012-128, Laws of Florida, this act must be used
2005 annually, first as set forth in paragraph (a) subsection (1) and
2006 then as set forth in paragraphs (b), (c), and (d) subsections
2007 (2)-(4), notwithstanding any other provision of law:
2008 (a)1.(1)(a) Beginning in the 2013-2014 fiscal year and
2009 annually for 30 years thereafter, $10 million shall be for the
2010 purpose of funding any seaport project identified in the adopted
2011 work program of the Department of Transportation, to be known as
2012 the Seaport Investment Program.
2013 2.(b) The revenues may be assigned, pledged, or set aside
2014 as a trust for the payment of principal or interest on revenue
2015 bonds, or other forms of indebtedness issued by an individual
2016 port or appropriate local government having jurisdiction
2017 thereof, or collectively by interlocal agreement among any of
2018 the ports, or used to purchase credit support to permit such
2019 borrowings. Alternatively, revenue bonds shall be issued by the
2020 Division of Bond Finance at the request of the Department of
2021 Transportation under the State Bond Act and shall be secured by
2022 such revenues as are provided in this subsection.
2023 3.(c) Revenue bonds or other indebtedness issued hereunder
2024 are not a general obligation of the state and are secured solely
2025 by a first lien on the revenues distributed under this
2026 subsection.
2027 4.(d) The state covenants with holders of the revenue bonds
2028 or other instruments of indebtedness issued pursuant to this
2029 subsection that it will not repeal this subsection; nor take any
2030 other action, including but not limited to amending this
2031 subsection, that will materially and adversely affect the rights
2032 of such holders so long as revenue bonds or other indebtedness
2033 authorized by this subsection are outstanding.
2034 5.(e) The proceeds of any revenue bonds or other
2035 indebtedness, after payment of costs of issuance and
2036 establishment of any required reserves, shall be invested in
2037 projects approved by the Department of Transportation and
2038 included in the department’s adopted work program, by amendment
2039 if necessary. As required under s. 11(f), Art. VII of the State
2040 Constitution, the Legislature approves projects included in the
2041 department’s adopted work program, including any projects added
2042 to the work program by amendment under s. 339.135(7).
2043 6.(f) Any revenues that are not used for the payment of
2044 bonds as authorized by this subsection may be used for purposes
2045 authorized under the Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic
2046 Development Program. This revenue source is in addition to any
2047 amounts provided for and appropriated in accordance with ss.
2048 311.07 and 320.20(3) and (4).
2049 (b)(2) Beginning in the 2013-2014 fiscal year and annually
2050 thereafter, $10 million shall be transferred to the
2051 Transportation Disadvantaged Trust Fund, to be used as specified
2052 in s. 427.0159.
2053 (c)(3) Beginning in the 2013-2014 fiscal year and annually
2054 thereafter, $10 million shall be allocated to the Small County
2055 Outreach Program to be used as specified in s. 339.2818. These
2056 funds are in addition to the funds provided for the program
2057 pursuant to s. 201.15(4)(a)1.
2058 (d)(4) After the distributions required pursuant to
2059 paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) subsections (1)-(3), the remaining
2060 funds shall be used annually for transportation projects within
2061 this state for existing or planned strategic transportation
2062 projects which connect major markets within this state or
2063 between this state and other states, which focus on job
2064 creation, and which increase this state’s viability in the
2065 national and global markets.
2066 (2) The remaining funds that result from increased revenue
2067 to the State Transportation Trust Fund derived pursuant to s.
2068 319.32(5)(a) must be used annually, notwithstanding any other
2069 law, beginning in the 2026-2027 fiscal year and annually
2070 thereafter, for the Small County Road Assistance Program as
2071 prescribed in s. 339.2816.
2072 (3)(5) Pursuant to s. 339.135(7), the department shall
2073 amend the work program to add the projects provided for in this
2074 section.
2075 Section 28. Subsection (3) and paragraph (a) of subsection
2076 (4) of section 339.2816, Florida Statutes, are amended, and
2077 paragraph (c) of subsection (4) of that section is reenacted, to
2078 read:
2079 339.2816 Small County Road Assistance Program.—
2080 (3) Beginning with fiscal year 1999-2000 until fiscal year
2081 2009-2010, and beginning again with fiscal year 2012-2013, up to
2082 $25 million annually from the State Transportation Trust Fund
2083 must may be used for the purposes of funding the Small County
2084 Road Assistance Program as described in this section. In
2085 addition, beginning with the fiscal year 2026-2027, the
2086 department must use the additional revenues allocated by s.
2087 339.0801 for the program.
2088 (4)(a) Small counties shall be eligible to compete for
2089 funds that have been designated for the Small County Road
2090 Assistance Program for resurfacing or reconstruction projects on
2091 county roads that were part of the county road system on June
2092 10, 1995. Capacity improvements on county roads are shall not be
2093 eligible for funding under the program unless a safety issue
2094 exists or the department finds it necessary to widen existing
2095 lanes as part of a resurfacing or reconstruction project.
2096 (c) The following criteria must be used to prioritize road
2097 projects for funding under the program:
2098 1. The primary criterion is the physical condition of the
2099 road as measured by the department.
2100 2. As secondary criteria the department may consider:
2101 a. Whether a road is used as an evacuation route.
2102 b. Whether a road has high levels of agricultural travel.
2103 c. Whether a road is considered a major arterial route.
2104 d. Whether a road is considered a feeder road.
2105 e. Whether a road is located in a fiscally constrained
2106 county, as defined in s. 218.67(1).
2107 f. Other criteria related to the impact of a project on the
2108 public road system or on the state or local economy as
2109 determined by the department.
2110 Section 29. Subsection (3) of section 339.2817, Florida
2111 Statutes, is amended, and subsection (6) is added to that
2112 section, to read:
2113 339.2817 County Incentive Grant Program.—
2114 (3) The department shall must consider, but is not limited
2115 to, the following criteria for evaluation of projects for County
2116 Incentive Grant Program assistance:
2117 (a) The extent to which the project will encourage,
2118 enhance, or create economic benefits;
2119 (b) The likelihood that assistance would enable the project
2120 to proceed at an earlier date than the project could otherwise
2121 proceed;
2122 (c) The extent to which assistance would foster innovative
2123 public-private partnerships and attract private debt or equity
2124 investment;
2125 (d) The extent to which the project uses new technologies,
2126 including intelligent transportation systems, which enhance the
2127 efficiency of the project;
2128 (e) The extent to which the project enhances connectivity
2129 between rural agricultural areas and market distribution
2130 centers;
2131 (f) The extent to which the project helps to maintain or
2132 protect the environment; and
2133 (g)(f) The extent to which the project includes
2134 transportation benefits for improving intermodalism and safety.
2135 (6) Beginning in the 2026-2027 fiscal year, the department
2136 shall give priority to a county located, either wholly or
2137 partially, within the Everglades Agricultural Area as defined in
2138 s. 373.4592(15) which, notwithstanding subsection (4), requests
2139 100 percent of the project costs for an eligible project that
2140 meets the criteria established in subsection (3). Requests under
2141 this subsection are limited to $15 million annually. This
2142 subsection expires July 1, 2032.
2143 Section 30. Subsections (1), (2), (3), (6), (7), and (8) of
2144 section 339.2818, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
2145 339.2818 Small County Outreach Program.—
2146 (1) There is created within the department of
2147 Transportation the Small County Outreach Program. The purpose of
2148 this program is to assist small county governments in repairing
2149 or rehabilitating county bridges, paving unpaved roads,
2150 addressing road-related drainage improvements, resurfacing or
2151 reconstructing county roads, or constructing capacity or safety
2152 improvements to county roads.
2153 (2) For the purposes of this section, the term “small
2154 county” means any county that has a population of 200,000 or
2155 less as determined by the most recent official population census
2156 determination estimate pursuant to s. 186.901.
2157 (3) Funds allocated under this program, pursuant to s. 4,
2158 ch. 2000-257, Laws of Florida, are in addition to any funds
2159 provided pursuant to s. 339.2816, for the Small County Road
2160 Assistance Program.
2161 (5)(6) Funds paid into the State Transportation Trust Fund
2162 pursuant to ss. 201.15, 320.072, and 339.0801 s. 201.15 for the
2163 purposes of the Small County Outreach Program are hereby
2164 annually appropriated for expenditure to support the Small
2165 County Outreach Program.
2166 (6)(7) Subject to a specific appropriation in addition to
2167 funds annually appropriated for projects under this section, a
2168 municipality within a rural area of opportunity or a rural area
2169 of opportunity community designated under s. 288.0656(7)(a) may
2170 compete for the additional project funding using the criteria
2171 listed in subsection (3) (4) at up to 100 percent of project
2172 costs, excluding capacity improvement projects.
2173 (8) Subject to a specific appropriation in addition to
2174 funds appropriated for projects under this section, a local
2175 government either wholly or partially within the Everglades
2176 Agricultural Area as defined in s. 373.4592(15), the Peace River
2177 Basin, or the Suwannee River Basin may compete for additional
2178 funding using the criteria listed in paragraph (4)(c) at up to
2179 100 percent of project costs on state or county roads used
2180 primarily as farm-to-market connections between rural
2181 agricultural areas and market distribution centers, excluding
2182 capacity improvement projects.
2183 Section 31. Section 339.68, Florida Statutes, is amended to
2184 read:
2185 (Substantial rewording of section.
2186 See s. 339.68, F.S., for present text.)
2187 339.68 Florida Arterial Road Modernization Program.—
2188 (1) The Legislature finds that increasing demands continue
2189 to be placed on rural arterial roads in this state by a fast
2190 growing economy, continued population growth, and increased
2191 tourism. Investment in the rural arterial roads of this state is
2192 needed to maintain the safety, mobility, reliability, and
2193 resiliency of the transportation system in order to support the
2194 movement of people, goods, and commodities; to enhance economic
2195 prosperity and competitiveness; and to enrich the quality of
2196 life of the rural communities and the environment of this state.
2197 (2) The Florida Arterial Road Modernization Program is
2198 created within the department to make capacity and safety
2199 improvements to two-lane arterial roads or connect existing
2200 arterial roads located in rural communities. For purposes of
2201 this section, the term “rural community” has the same meaning as
2202 in s. 288.0656.
2203 (3) Beginning in the 2026-2027 fiscal year, the department
2204 shall allocate from the State Transportation Trust Fund a
2205 minimum of $50 million in each fiscal year for purposes of
2206 funding the program. This funding is in addition to any other
2207 funding provided to the program by any other law.
2208 (4) The department shall use the following criteria to
2209 prioritize projects for funding under the program:
2210 (a) Whether the road has documented safety concerns or
2211 requires additional safety and design improvements. This may be
2212 evidenced by the number of fatalities or crashes per vehicle
2213 mile traveled.
2214 (b) Whether the road has or is projected to have a
2215 significant amount of truck tractor traffic as determined by the
2216 department. For purposes of this paragraph, the term “truck
2217 tractor” has the same meaning as in s. 320.01(11).
2218 (c) Whether the road is used to transport agricultural
2219 products and commodities from a farm to the market or other sale
2220 or distribution point.
2221 (d) Whether the road is used to transport goods to or from
2222 warehouses, distribution centers, or intermodal logistics
2223 centers as defined in s. 311.101(2).
2224 (e) Whether the road is used as an evacuation route.
2225 (f) Whether the physical condition of the road meets
2226 department standards.
2227 (g) Whether the road currently has, or is projected to have
2228 within the next 5 years, a level of service of D, E, or F.
2229 (h) Any other criteria related to the impact of a project
2230 on the public road system or on the state or local economy as
2231 determined by the department.
2232 (5) By January 3, 2028, and every 2 years thereafter, the
2233 department shall submit to the Governor, the President of the
2234 Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives a report
2235 regarding the use and condition of arterial roads located in
2236 rural communities, which report must include all of the
2237 following:
2238 (a) A map of roads located in rural communities which are
2239 designated as arterial roads.
2240 (b) A needs assessment that must include, but is not
2241 limited to, consideration of infrastructure improvements to
2242 improve capacity on arterial roads in rural communities.
2243 (c) A synopsis of the department’s project prioritization
2244 process.
2245 (d) An estimate of the local and state economic impact of
2246 improving capacity on arterial roads in rural communities.
2247 (e) A listing of the arterial roads and the associated
2248 improvements to be included in the program and a schedule or
2249 timeline for the inclusion of such projects in the work program.
2250 Section 32. (1) The Department of Transportation shall
2251 allocate the additional funds provided by this act to implement
2252 the Small County Road Assistance Program as created by s.
2253 339.2816, Florida Statutes, and amend the current tentative work
2254 program for the 2026-2027 through 2032-2033 fiscal years to
2255 include additional projects. In addition, before adoption of the
2256 work program, the department shall submit a budget amendment
2257 pursuant to s. 339.135(7), Florida Statutes, requesting budget
2258 authority necessary to implement the additional projects.
2259 (2) The department shall allocate sufficient funds to
2260 implement the Florida Arterial Road Modernization Program as
2261 created by s. 339.68, Florida Statutes, develop a plan to expend
2262 the revenues as specified in s. 339.68, Florida Statutes, and,
2263 before its adoption, amend the current tentative work program
2264 for the 2026-2027 through 2032-2033 fiscal years to include the
2265 program’s projects. In addition, before adoption of the work
2266 program, the department shall submit a budget amendment pursuant
2267 to s. 339.135(7), Florida Statutes, requesting budget authority
2268 necessary to implement the program as specified in s. 339.68,
2269 Florida Statutes.
2270 (3) Notwithstanding any other law, the increase in revenue
2271 to the State Transportation Trust Fund derived from the
2272 amendments to ss. 201.15 and 319.32, Florida Statutes, made by
2273 this act and deposited into the trust fund pursuant to ss.
2274 201.15 and 339.0801, Florida Statutes, must be used by the
2275 department to fund the programs as specified in this section.
2276 Section 33. Section 341.0525, Florida Statutes, is created
2277 to read:
2278 341.0525 Rural transit operating block grant program;
2279 administration; eligible projects.—
2280 (1) There is created a rural transit operating block grant
2281 program to be administered by the department. Rural transit
2282 block grant funds are available only to public transit providers
2283 not eligible to receive public transit block grants pursuant to
2284 s. 341.052.
2285 (2) At least $3 million must be allocated annually from the
2286 State Transportation Trust Fund for the program. At least
2287 $20,000 must be distributed to each eligible provider if
2288 application of the following formula provides less than that
2289 amount for any such provider:
2290 (a) One-third must be distributed according to the
2291 percentage that an eligible provider’s nonurbanized county
2292 population in the most recent year official population estimate
2293 pursuant to s. 186.901 is of the total population of all
2294 counties served by eligible providers.
2295 (b) One-third must be distributed according to the
2296 percentage that the total nonurbanized revenue miles provided by
2297 an eligible provider, as verified by the most recent National
2298 Transit Database report or a similar audited report submitted to
2299 the department, is of the total rural revenue miles provided by
2300 eligible providers in the state in that year.
2301 (c) One-third must be distributed according to the
2302 percentage that the total nonurbanized passengers carried by an
2303 eligible provider, as verified by the most recent National
2304 Transit Database report or a similar audited report submitted to
2305 the department, is of the total number of passengers carried by
2306 eligible providers in the state in that year.
2307 (3) Grant funds must be used to pay public transit
2308 operating costs. State participation in such costs may not
2309 exceed 50 percent of such costs or an amount equal to the total
2310 revenue, excluding farebox, charter, and advertising revenue and
2311 federal funds, received by the provider for operating costs,
2312 whichever amount is less.
2313 (4)(a) An eligible provider may not use block grant funds
2314 to supplant local tax revenues made available to such provider
2315 for operations in the previous year; however, the Secretary of
2316 Transportation may waive this provision for public transit
2317 providers located in a county recovering from a state of
2318 emergency declared pursuant to part I of chapter 252.
2319 (b) The state may not give any county more than 39 percent
2320 of the funds available for distribution under this section or
2321 more than the amount local revenue sources provide to that
2322 county for its transit system.
2323 (5) To remain eligible to receive funding under the
2324 program, eligible providers must comply with s. 341.071(1) and
2325 (2).
2326 (6)(a) Any funds distributed to an eligible provider
2327 pursuant to subsection (2) which cannot be expended within the
2328 limitations of the program must be returned to the department
2329 for redistribution to other eligible providers.
2330 (b) The department may consult with an eligible provider,
2331 before distributing funds to that provider, to determine whether
2332 the provider can expend its total block grant within the
2333 limitations of the program. If the department and the provider
2334 agree that the total block grant amount cannot be expended, the
2335 provider may agree to accept a block grant amount of less than
2336 the total amount, in which case the funds that exceed such
2337 lesser agreed-upon amount must be redistributed to other
2338 eligible providers.
2339 (c) If an audit reveals that an eligible provider expended
2340 block grant funds on unauthorized uses, the provider must repay
2341 to the department an amount equal to the funds expended for
2342 unauthorized uses. The department shall redistribute such
2343 repayments to other eligible providers.
2344 Section 34. Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of section
2345 381.402, Florida Statutes, is amended, and paragraph (h) is
2346 added to subsection (2) of that section, to read:
2347 381.402 Florida Reimbursement Assistance for Medical
2348 Education Program.—
2349 (2) The following licensed or certified health care
2350 practitioners are eligible to participate in the program:
2351 (h) Medical doctors or doctors of osteopathic medicine who
2352 are board certified or board eligible in emergency medicine and
2353 employed by or under contract with a rural hospital as defined
2354 in s. 395.602(2)(b) or a rural emergency hospital as defined in
2355 s. 395.607(1)(a) to provide medical care in the rural hospital’s
2356 or rural emergency hospital’s emergency department.
2357
2358 Primary care medical specialties for physicians include
2359 obstetrics, gynecology, general and family practice, geriatrics,
2360 internal medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry, and other specialties
2361 which may be identified by the Department of Health.
2362 (3) From the funds available, the Department of Health
2363 shall make payments as follows:
2364 (b) All payments are contingent on continued proof of:
2365 1.a. Primary care practice in a rural hospital as defined
2366 in s. 395.602(2)(b) or an underserved area designated by the
2367 Department of Health, provided the practitioner accepts Medicaid
2368 reimbursement if eligible for such reimbursement; or
2369 b. Emergency medicine practice in a rural hospital as
2370 defined in s. 395.602(2)(b) or rural emergency hospital as
2371 defined in s. 395.607(1)(a), provided the practitioner accepts
2372 Medicaid reimbursement if eligible for such reimbursement; or
2373 c. For practitioners other than physicians, practice in
2374 other settings, including, but not limited to, a nursing home
2375 facility as defined in s. 400.021, a home health agency as
2376 defined in s. 400.462, or an intermediate care facility for the
2377 developmentally disabled as defined in s. 400.960. Any such
2378 setting must be located in, or serve residents or patients in,
2379 an underserved area designated by the Department of Health and
2380 must provide services to Medicaid patients.
2381 2. Providing 25 hours annually of volunteer primary care
2382 services within the practitioner’s scope of practice in a free
2383 clinic as specified in s. 766.1115(3)(d)14. or through another
2384 volunteer program operated by the state pursuant to part IV of
2385 chapter 110 and approved by the department. In order to meet the
2386 requirements of this subparagraph, the volunteer hours must be
2387 verifiable in a manner determined by the department.
2388 Section 35. Section 381.403, Florida Statutes, is created
2389 to read:
2390 381.403 Rural Access to Primary and Preventive Care Grant
2391 Program.—The Legislature recognizes that access to primary and
2392 preventive health care is critical for the well-being of the
2393 residents of this state. The Legislature also recognizes that
2394 many rural areas of this state have significantly fewer
2395 available physicians, physician assistants, and autonomous
2396 advanced practice registered nurses who serve those areas. To
2397 increase the availability of health care in such underserved
2398 rural areas, there is created the Rural Access to Primary and
2399 Preventive Care Grant Program within the Department of Health to
2400 use grants to incentivize the creation or expansion of health
2401 care practices in those areas.
2402 (1) As used in this section, the term:
2403 (a) “Autonomous advanced practice registered nurse” means
2404 an advanced practice registered nurse who is registered under s.
2405 464.0123 to engage in autonomous practice.
2406 (b) “Majority ownership” means ownership of more than 50
2407 percent of the interests in a private practice.
2408 (c) “Physician” means a physician licensed under chapter
2409 458 or chapter 459.
2410 (d) “Physician assistant” means a physician assistant
2411 licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459 to perform medical
2412 services delegated by a supervising physician.
2413 (e) “Preventive care” means routine health care services
2414 designed to prevent illness. The term includes, but is not
2415 limited to, general physical examinations provided on an annual
2416 basis, screenings for acute or chronic illnesses, and patient
2417 counseling to promote overall wellness and avoid the need for
2418 emergency services.
2419 (f) “Primary care” means health care services focused
2420 primarily on preventive care, wellness care, and treatment for
2421 common illnesses. The term may include the health care provider
2422 serving as a patient’s entry point into the overall health care
2423 system and coordinating a patient’s care among specialists or
2424 acute care settings. The term does not include elective services
2425 provided solely for cosmetic purposes.
2426 (g) “Program” means the Rural Access to Primary and
2427 Preventive Care Grant Program.
2428 (h) “Qualifying rural area” means a rural community as
2429 defined in s. 288.0657 in this state which is also designated as
2430 a health professional shortage area by the Health Resources and
2431 Services Administration of the United States Department of
2432 Health and Human Services.
2433 (2) The department shall award grants under the program to
2434 physicians, physician assistants, and autonomous advanced
2435 practice registered nurses who intend to open a new private
2436 practice in a qualifying rural area or who intend to open a new
2437 location within a qualifying rural area if the current private
2438 practice is located in a different county. To qualify for a
2439 grant, an applicant must meet all of the following criteria:
2440 (a) The practice must:
2441 1. Have majority ownership by physicians, physician
2442 assistants, or autonomous advanced practice registered nurses,
2443 or a combination thereof.
2444 2. Be physically located in a qualifying rural area and, at
2445 that location, serve patients who live in that qualifying rural
2446 area or in other nearby qualifying rural areas. The practice may
2447 also serve patients who reside outside of the qualifying rural
2448 area. While the practice may use telehealth to supplement the
2449 services provided at the location, the majority of services
2450 provided by the practice must be provided in-person at the
2451 physical location.
2452 3. Accept Medicaid patients.
2453 4. Provide services solely in primary care or preventative
2454 care, except that a physician, and any nurse licensed under
2455 chapter 464 or any physician assistant supervised by the
2456 physician, may provide services at the practice in primary care
2457 or preventative care, or services that are within the
2458 practitioner’s scope of practice, based on the physician’s
2459 board-certified specialty in obstetrics, gynecology, general and
2460 family practice, geriatrics, internal medicine, pediatrics, or
2461 psychiatry.
2462 (b) The owners of the practice must commit to providing the
2463 following information to the department on an annual basis, and
2464 upon request by the department, for the duration of the contract
2465 entered into pursuant to subsection (6):
2466 1. Deidentified patient encounter data.
2467 2. A detailed report on the use of grant funds until such
2468 funds are expended.
2469 (3) By March 1, 2027, the department shall create an
2470 application process for eligible physicians, physician
2471 assistants, and autonomous advanced practice registered nurses
2472 to apply for grants under the program. The application must
2473 require a detailed budget of anticipated use of grant funds and
2474 an explanation of the manner in which the new or existing
2475 practice will meet the requirements of subsection (2). The
2476 department shall establish a ranking system to determine which
2477 applicants will be awarded grants if there are more applicants
2478 for the program than can be awarded grants with available
2479 appropriated funds.
2480 (4) Subject to specific appropriation, the department may
2481 award grants of up to $250,000 to eligible applicants. Only one
2482 grant may be awarded per practice. Grant funds awarded for
2483 establishing a new private practice or a new practice location
2484 may be used for any of the following expenses:
2485 (a) Facility construction, acquisition, renovation, or
2486 lease.
2487 (b) Purchasing medical equipment.
2488 (c) Purchasing or implementing information technology
2489 equipment or services.
2490 (d) Purchasing or implementing telehealth technology.
2491 (e) Training on the use of medical equipment, information
2492 technology, or telehealth technology implemented under paragraph
2493 (b), paragraph (c), or paragraph (d), respectively.
2494 (5) Grant funds may not be used for any of the following:
2495 (a) Salaries.
2496 (b) Utilities.
2497 (c) Internet or telecommunications services other than
2498 those necessary for implementing telehealth technology under
2499 paragraph (4)(d).
2500 (d) Insurance.
2501 (e) Incidental maintenance and repairs.
2502 (f) Disposable medical supplies.
2503 (g) Medicines or vaccines.
2504 (h) Licensing or certification fees, including costs for
2505 continuing education other than training under paragraph (4)(e).
2506 (6) The department shall enter into a contract with each
2507 grant recipient which details the requirements for the
2508 expenditure of grant funds by that recipient. The contract must
2509 include, at a minimum, all of the following:
2510 (a) The purpose of the contract.
2511 (b) Specific performance standards and responsibilities for
2512 the recipient under the contract, including penalties for not
2513 meeting such performance standards and responsibilities.
2514 (c) A detailed project or contract budget, if applicable.
2515 (d) Reporting requirements for grant recipients to provide
2516 information to the department under paragraph (2)(b) as well as
2517 any additional information the department deems necessary for
2518 the administration of the program.
2519 (7) The department may adopt rules to implement the
2520 program.
2521 (8) Beginning July 1, 2027, and each year thereafter in
2522 which there are outstanding contracts with grant recipients
2523 under subsection (6), the department shall provide a report to
2524 the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of
2525 the House of Representatives which includes, but need not be
2526 limited to, all of the following:
2527 (a) Each grant awarded, including the proposed uses for
2528 each grant.
2529 (b) The progress on each outstanding contract.
2530 (c) The number of patients residing in rural areas who were
2531 served by grant awardees.
2532 (d) The number of Medicaid recipients who were served by
2533 grant awardees.
2534 (e) The number and types of services provided during
2535 patient encounters in locations opened under the program.
2536 (f) The number of health care practitioners, delineated by
2537 licensure type, providing services in locations opened under the
2538 program.
2539 (9) This section is repealed July 1, 2036, unless reviewed
2540 and saved from repeal through reenactment by the Legislature.
2541 Section 36. Section 381.9856, Florida Statutes, is created
2542 to read:
2543 381.9856 Stroke, Cardiac, and Obstetric Response and
2544 Education Grant Program.—
2545 (1) PROGRAM CREATION.—The Stroke, Cardiac, and Obstetric
2546 Response and Education (SCORE) Grant Program is created within
2547 the Department of Health.
2548 (2) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the program is to improve
2549 patient outcomes and the coordination of emergency medical care
2550 in rural communities by increasing access to high-quality
2551 stroke, cardiac, and obstetric care through the application of
2552 technology and innovative training, such as blended learning
2553 training programs. Blended learning training programs ensure
2554 that participants gain both the theoretical foundations of
2555 diagnosis and management as well as real-world clinical
2556 experience through scenario-based learning, ultimately enhancing
2557 decisionmaking and patient outcomes.
2558 (3) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term:
2559 (a) “Blended learning training program” means a structured
2560 educational model that uses blended learning methodologies,
2561 including simulation-based training, virtual reality, and
2562 distance learning technologies, in conjunction with hands-on
2563 instruction, such as simulation-based practice, and in-person
2564 skills sessions to provide comprehensive education.
2565 (b) “High-risk care provider” means a licensed health care
2566 facility or licensed ambulance service that regularly provides
2567 emergency or ongoing care to patients experiencing a stroke,
2568 heart attack, or pregnancy-related emergency.
2569 (c) “Rural community” has the same meaning as provided in
2570 s. 288.0657.
2571 (4) GRANT PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.—
2572 (a) The department shall award grants to high-risk care
2573 providers serving rural communities to accomplish at least one
2574 of the following initiatives:
2575 1. Implement a blended learning training program for health
2576 care providers in stroke care protocols and best practices.
2577 2. Purchase simulation equipment and technology for
2578 training.
2579 3. Establish telehealth capabilities between prehospital
2580 providers, such as paramedics or emergency medical technicians,
2581 and in-hospital providers, such as neurologists, to expedite
2582 emergency stroke care, emergency cardiac care, or emergency
2583 obstetric care.
2584 4. Develop quality improvement programs in one or more of
2585 the following specialty areas: emergency stroke care, emergency
2586 cardiac care, or emergency obstetric care.
2587 (b) Priority must be given to proposals that:
2588 1. Demonstrate collaboration between prehospital and in
2589 hospital providers; or
2590 2. Show potential for significant improvement in patient
2591 outcomes in rural communities.
2592 (5) FUNDING LIMITS; REPORTING.—
2593 (a) Individual grants may not exceed $100,000 per year.
2594 (b) Grant recipients must submit quarterly reports to the
2595 department documenting program activities, expenditures, and
2596 outcomes.
2597 (6) ADMINISTRATION.—The department shall monitor program
2598 implementation and outcomes. The department shall also submit an
2599 annual report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and
2600 the Speaker of the House of Representatives by December 1 of
2601 each year, detailing program implementation and outcomes.
2602 (7) RULEMAKING.—The department may adopt rules to implement
2603 this section.
2604 (8) IMPLEMENTATION.—This section may be implemented only to
2605 the extent specifically funded by legislative appropriation.
2606 (9) REPEAL.—This section is repealed July 1, 2031, unless
2607 reviewed and saved from repeal through reenactment by the
2608 Legislature.
2609 Section 37. Subsection (2) of section 395.6061, Florida
2610 Statutes, is amended to read:
2611 395.6061 Rural hospital capital improvement.—There is
2612 established a rural hospital capital improvement grant program.
2613 (2)(a) Each rural hospital as defined in s. 395.602 shall
2614 receive a minimum of $100,000 annually, subject to legislative
2615 appropriation, upon application to the Department of Health, for
2616 projects to acquire, repair, improve, or upgrade systems,
2617 facilities, or equipment. Such projects may include, but are not
2618 limited to, the following:
2619 1. Establishing mobile care units to provide primary care
2620 services, behavioral health services, or obstetric and
2621 gynecological services in rural health professional shortage
2622 areas.
2623 2. Establishing telehealth kiosks to provide urgent care
2624 and primary care services remotely in rural health professional
2625 shortage areas.
2626 (b) As used in this subsection, the term:
2627 1. “Preventive care” means routine health care services
2628 designed to prevent illness. The term includes, but is not
2629 limited to, general physical examinations provided on an annual
2630 basis, screenings for acute or chronic illnesses, and patient
2631 counseling to promote overall wellness and avoid the need for
2632 emergency services.
2633 2. “Primary care” means health care services focused
2634 primarily on preventive care, wellness care, and treatment for
2635 common illnesses. The term may include the health care provider
2636 serving as a patient’s entry point into the overall health care
2637 system and coordinating a patient’s care among specialists or
2638 acute care settings. The term does not include elective services
2639 provided solely for cosmetic purposes.
2640 3. “Rural health professional shortage area” means a rural
2641 community as defined in s. 288.0657 which is also designated as
2642 a health professional shortage area by the Health Resources and
2643 Services Administration of the United States Department of
2644 Health and Human Services.
2645 Section 38. Subsection (3) of section 420.9073, Florida
2646 Statutes, is amended to read:
2647 420.9073 Local housing distributions.—
2648 (3) Calculation of guaranteed amounts:
2649 (a) The guaranteed amount under subsection (1) shall be
2650 calculated for each state fiscal year by multiplying $1 million
2651 $350,000 by a fraction, the numerator of which is the amount of
2652 funds distributed to the Local Government Housing Trust Fund
2653 pursuant to s. 201.15(4)(c) and the denominator of which is the
2654 total amount of funds distributed to the Local Government
2655 Housing Trust Fund pursuant to s. 201.15.
2656 (b) The guaranteed amount under subsection (2) shall be
2657 calculated for each state fiscal year by multiplying $1 million
2658 $350,000 by a fraction, the numerator of which is the amount of
2659 funds distributed to the Local Government Housing Trust Fund
2660 pursuant to s. 201.15(4)(d) and the denominator of which is the
2661 total amount of funds distributed to the Local Government
2662 Housing Trust Fund pursuant to s. 201.15.
2663 Section 39. Paragraph (n) of subsection (5) of section
2664 420.9075, Florida Statutes, is amended, paragraph (o) is added
2665 to that subsection, and paragraph (b) of subsection (13) of that
2666 section is reenacted, to read:
2667 420.9075 Local housing assistance plans; partnerships.—
2668 (5) The following criteria apply to awards made to eligible
2669 sponsors or eligible persons for the purpose of providing
2670 eligible housing:
2671 (n) Funds from the local housing distribution not used to
2672 meet the criteria established in paragraph (a), or paragraph
2673 (c), or paragraph (o) or not used for the administration of a
2674 local housing assistance plan must be used for housing
2675 production and finance activities, including, but not limited
2676 to, financing preconstruction activities or the purchase of
2677 existing units, providing rental housing, and providing home
2678 ownership training to prospective home buyers and owners of
2679 homes assisted through the local housing assistance plan.
2680 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (a) and
2681 (c), program income as defined in s. 420.9071(26) may also be
2682 used to fund activities described in this paragraph.
2683 2. When preconstruction due-diligence activities conducted
2684 as part of a preservation strategy show that preservation of the
2685 units is not feasible and will not result in the production of
2686 an eligible unit, such costs must shall be deemed a program
2687 expense rather than an administrative expense if such program
2688 expenses do not exceed 3 percent of the annual local housing
2689 distribution.
2690 3. If both an award under the local housing assistance plan
2691 and federal low-income housing tax credits are used to assist a
2692 project and there is a conflict between the criteria prescribed
2693 in this subsection and the requirements of s. 42 of the Internal
2694 Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, the county or eligible
2695 municipality may resolve the conflict by giving precedence to
2696 the requirements of s. 42 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
2697 as amended, in lieu of following the criteria prescribed in this
2698 subsection with the exception of paragraphs (a) and (g) of this
2699 subsection.
2700 4. Each county and each eligible municipality may award
2701 funds as a grant for construction, rehabilitation, or repair as
2702 part of disaster recovery or emergency repairs or to remedy
2703 accessibility or health and safety deficiencies. Any other
2704 grants must be approved as part of the local housing assistance
2705 plan.
2706 (o) Notwithstanding paragraphs (a) and (c), up to 25
2707 percent of the funds made available in each county and eligible
2708 municipality from the local housing distribution may be used to
2709 preserve multifamily affordable rental housing funded through
2710 United States Department of Agriculture loans. These funds may
2711 be used to rehabilitate housing, extend affordability periods,
2712 or acquire or transfer properties in partnership with private
2713 organizations. This paragraph expires on June 30, 2032.
2714 (13)
2715 (b) If, as a result of its review of the annual report, the
2716 corporation determines that a county or eligible municipality
2717 has failed to implement a local housing incentive strategy, or,
2718 if applicable, a local housing incentive plan, it shall send a
2719 notice of termination of the local government’s share of the
2720 local housing distribution by certified mail to the affected
2721 county or eligible municipality.
2722 1. The notice must specify a date of termination of the
2723 funding if the affected county or eligible municipality does not
2724 implement the plan or strategy and provide for a local response.
2725 A county or eligible municipality shall respond to the
2726 corporation within 30 days after receipt of the notice of
2727 termination.
2728 2. The corporation shall consider the local response that
2729 extenuating circumstances precluded implementation and grant an
2730 extension to the timeframe for implementation. Such an extension
2731 shall be made in the form of an extension agreement that
2732 provides a timeframe for implementation. The chief elected
2733 official of a county or eligible municipality or his or her
2734 designee shall have the authority to enter into the agreement on
2735 behalf of the local government.
2736 3. If the county or the eligible municipality has not
2737 implemented the incentive strategy or entered into an extension
2738 agreement by the termination date specified in the notice, the
2739 local housing distribution share terminates, and any uncommitted
2740 local housing distribution funds held by the affected county or
2741 eligible municipality in its local housing assistance trust fund
2742 shall be transferred to the Local Government Housing Trust Fund
2743 to the credit of the corporation to administer.
2744 4.a. If the affected local government fails to meet the
2745 timeframes specified in the agreement, the corporation shall
2746 terminate funds. The corporation shall send a notice of
2747 termination of the local government’s share of the local housing
2748 distribution by certified mail to the affected local government.
2749 The notice shall specify the termination date, and any
2750 uncommitted funds held by the affected local government shall be
2751 transferred to the Local Government Housing Trust Fund to the
2752 credit of the corporation to administer.
2753 b. If the corporation terminates funds to a county, but an
2754 eligible municipality receiving a local housing distribution
2755 pursuant to an interlocal agreement maintains compliance with
2756 program requirements, the corporation shall thereafter
2757 distribute directly to the participating eligible municipality
2758 its share calculated in the manner provided in ss. 420.9072 and
2759 420.9073.
2760 c. Any county or eligible municipality whose local
2761 distribution share has been terminated may subsequently elect to
2762 receive directly its local distribution share by adopting the
2763 ordinance, resolution, and local housing assistance plan in the
2764 manner and according to the procedures provided in ss. 420.907
2765 420.9079.
2766 Section 40. Subsections (1), (2), and (5) of section
2767 1001.451, Florida Statutes, are amended, and subsection (6) is
2768 added to that section, to read:
2769 1001.451 Regional consortium service organizations.—In
2770 order to provide a full range of programs to larger numbers of
2771 students, minimize duplication of services, and encourage the
2772 development of new programs and services:
2773 (1) School districts with 20,000 or fewer unweighted full
2774 time equivalent students, developmental research (laboratory)
2775 schools established pursuant to s. 1002.32, and the Florida
2776 School for the Deaf and the Blind may enter into cooperative
2777 agreements to form a regional consortium service organization.
2778 Each regional consortium service organization shall provide any,
2779 at a minimum, three of the following services determined
2780 necessary and appropriate by the board of directors:
2781 (a) Exceptional student education;
2782 (b) Safe schools support teacher education centers;
2783 environmental education;
2784 (c) State and federal grant procurement and coordination;
2785 (d) Data services processing; health
2786 (e) Insurance services;
2787 (f) Risk management insurance;
2788 (g) Professional learning;
2789 (h) College, career, and workforce development;
2790 (i) Business and operational services staff development;
2791 (j) Purchasing; or
2792 (k) Planning and accountability.
2793 (2)(a) Each regional consortium service organization
2794 composed that consists of four or more school districts is
2795 eligible to receive, through the Department of Education,
2796 subject to the funds provided in the General Appropriations Act,
2797 an allocation incentive grant of $150,000 $50,000 per school
2798 district and eligible member to be used for the delivery of
2799 services within the participating school districts. The
2800 determination of services and use of such funds must shall be
2801 established by the board of directors of the regional consortium
2802 service organization. The funds must shall be distributed to
2803 each regional consortium service organization no later than 30
2804 days following the release of the funds to the department. Each
2805 regional consortium service organization shall submit an annual
2806 report to the department regarding the use of funds for
2807 consortia services. Unexpended amounts in any fund in a
2808 consortium’s current year operating budget must be carried
2809 forward and included as the balance forward for that fund in the
2810 approved operating budget for the following year. Each regional
2811 consortium service organization shall provide quarterly
2812 financial reports to member districts.
2813 (b) Member districts shall designate a district to serve as
2814 a fiscal agent for contractual and reporting purposes. Such
2815 fiscal agent district is entitled to reasonable compensation for
2816 accounting and other services performed. The regional consortium
2817 service organization shall retain all funds received from grants
2818 or contracted services to cover indirect or administrative costs
2819 associated with the provision of such services. The regional
2820 consortium service organization board of directors shall
2821 determine the products and services to be provided by the
2822 consortium; however, in all contractual matters, the school
2823 board of the fiscal agent district shall act on proposed actions
2824 of the regional consortium service organization.
2825 (c) The regional consortium service organization board of
2826 directors shall recommend establishment of positions and
2827 individuals for appointment to the fiscal agent district.
2828 Personnel must be employed under the personnel policies of the
2829 fiscal agent district and are deemed to be public employees of
2830 the fiscal agent district. The regional consortium service
2831 organization board of directors may recommend a salary schedule
2832 and job descriptions specific to its personnel.
2833 (d) The regional consortium service organization may
2834 purchase or lease property and facilities essential for its
2835 operations and is responsible for their maintenance and
2836 associated overhead costs.
2837 (e) If a regional consortium service organization is
2838 dissolved, any revenue from the sale of assets must be
2839 distributed among the member districts as determined by the
2840 board of directors Application for incentive grants shall be
2841 made to the Commissioner of Education by July 30 of each year
2842 for distribution to qualifying regional consortium service
2843 organizations by January 1 of the fiscal year.
2844 (5) The board of directors of a regional consortium service
2845 organization may use various means to generate revenue in
2846 support of its activities, including, but not limited to,
2847 contracting for services to nonmember districts. The board of
2848 directors may acquire, enjoy, use, and dispose of patents,
2849 copyrights, and trademarks and any licenses and associated other
2850 rights or interests thereunder or therein. Ownership of all such
2851 patents, copyrights, trademarks, licenses, and associated rights
2852 or interests thereunder or therein shall vest in the state, with
2853 the board of directors having full right of use and full right
2854 to retain associated the revenues derived therefrom. Any funds
2855 realized from contracted services, patents, copyrights,
2856 trademarks, or licenses are shall be considered internal funds
2857 as provided in s. 1011.07. A fund balance must be established
2858 for maintaining or expanding services, facilities maintenance,
2859 terminal pay, and other liabilities Such funds shall be used to
2860 support the organization’s marketing and research and
2861 development activities in order to improve and increase services
2862 to its member districts.
2863 (6) A regional consortium service organization is
2864 authorized to administer the Regional Consortia Service
2865 Organization Supplemental Services Program under s. 1001.4511.
2866 Section 41. Section 1001.4511, Florida Statutes, is created
2867 to read:
2868 1001.4511 Regional Consortia Service Organization
2869 Supplemental Services Program.—
2870 (1) There is created the Regional Consortia Service
2871 Organization Supplemental Services Program to increase the
2872 ability of regional consortium service organizations under s.
2873 1001.451 to provide programs and services to consortia members
2874 through cooperative agreements. Program funds may be used to
2875 supplement member needs related to transportation; district
2876 finance personnel services; property insurance, including
2877 property insurance obtained from any source; cybersecurity
2878 support; school safety; college, career, and workforce
2879 development; academic support; and behavior support within
2880 exceptional student education services.
2881 (2) Each regional consortium service organization shall
2882 annually report to the President of the Senate and the Speaker
2883 of the House of Representatives the distribution of funds,
2884 including members awarded and services provided.
2885 (3) Notwithstanding s. 216.301 and pursuant to s. 216.351,
2886 funds allocated for this purpose which are not disbursed by June
2887 30 of the fiscal year in which the funds are allocated may be
2888 carried forward for up to 5 years after the effective date of
2889 the original appropriation.
2890 Section 42. Section 1009.635, Florida Statutes, is created
2891 to read:
2892 1009.635 Rural Incentive for Professional Educators
2893 Program.—
2894 (1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Rural Incentive for Professional
2895 Educators (RIPE) Program is established within the Department of
2896 Education to support the recruitment and retention of qualified
2897 instructional personnel in rural communities. The program shall
2898 provide financial assistance for the repayment of student loans
2899 for eligible participants who establish permanent residency and
2900 employment in rural areas of opportunity.
2901 (2) ELIGIBILITY.—An individual is eligible to participate
2902 in the RIPE Program if he or she does all of the following:
2903 (a) Establishes permanent residency on or after July 1,
2904 2026, in a rural area of opportunity as designated pursuant to
2905 s. 288.0656. The address on an individual’s state-issued
2906 identification card or driver license is evidence of residence.
2907 (b) Secures full-time employment as a teacher or
2908 administrator in a private school as defined in s. 1002.01, or
2909 as instructional or administrative personnel as those terms are
2910 defined in s. 1012.01(2) and (3), respectively, in the public
2911 school district located within the same rural area of
2912 opportunity as he or she resides.
2913 (c) Holds an associate degree, bachelor’s degree,
2914 postgraduate degree, or certificate from an accredited
2915 institution earned before establishing residency.
2916 (d) Has an active student loan balance incurred for the
2917 completion of the qualifying degree or certificate.
2918 (3) LOAN REPAYMENT.—Eligible participants may receive up to
2919 $15,000 in total student loan repayment assistance over 5 years,
2920 disbursed in annual payments not to exceed $3,000 per year.
2921 Payments must be made directly to the lender servicing the
2922 participant’s student loan.
2923 (4) AWARD DISTRIBUTION.—Before disbursement of an award,
2924 the department shall verify that the participant:
2925 (a) Has maintained continuous employment with the school
2926 district in an instructional or administrative position;
2927 (b) Has received a rating of effective or highly effective
2928 pursuant to s. 1012.34; and
2929 (c) Has not been placed on probation, had his or her
2930 certificate suspended or revoked, or been placed on the
2931 disqualification list, pursuant to s. 1012.796.
2932 (5) ADMINISTRATION.—The program shall be administered by
2933 the Office of Student Financial Assistance within the Department
2934 of Education, which shall:
2935 (a) Develop application procedures requiring documentation,
2936 including proof of residency, verification of employment,
2937 official academic transcripts, and details of outstanding
2938 student loans; and
2939 (b) Monitor compliance with program requirements.
2940 (6) RULEMAKING.—The State Board of Education shall adopt
2941 rules no later than January 31, 2027, to administer this
2942 section.
2943 Section 43. Subsection (3) of section 1013.62, Florida
2944 Statutes, is amended to read:
2945 1013.62 Charter schools capital outlay funding.—
2946 (3) If the school board levies the discretionary millage
2947 authorized in s. 1011.71(2), the department must shall use the
2948 following calculation methodology to determine the amount of
2949 revenue that a school district must distribute to each eligible
2950 charter school:
2951 (a) Reduce the total discretionary millage revenue by the
2952 school district’s annual debt service obligation incurred as of
2953 March 1, 2017, which has not been subsequently retired, and:
2954 1. Beginning in the 2026-2027 fiscal year, for any district
2955 with an active project or an outstanding participation
2956 requirement balance, any amount of participation requirement
2957 pursuant to s. 1013.64(2)(a)8. that is being satisfied by
2958 revenues raised by the discretionary millage; or
2959 2. For construction projects for which Special Facilities
2960 Construction Account funding is sought beginning in the 2026
2961 2027 fiscal year, the value of 1 mill from the revenue generated
2962 pursuant to s. 1013.64(2)(a)8.b.
2963 (b) Divide the school district’s adjusted discretionary
2964 millage revenue by the district’s total capital outlay full-time
2965 equivalent membership and the total number of full-time
2966 equivalent students of each eligible charter school to determine
2967 a capital outlay allocation per full-time equivalent student.
2968 (c) Multiply the capital outlay allocation per full-time
2969 equivalent student by the total number of full-time equivalent
2970 students of each eligible charter school to determine the
2971 capital outlay allocation for each charter school.
2972 (d) If applicable, reduce the capital outlay allocation
2973 identified in paragraph (c) by the total amount of state funds
2974 allocated to each eligible charter school in subsection (2) to
2975 determine the maximum calculated capital outlay allocation. The
2976 amount of funds a school district must distribute to charter
2977 schools shall be as follows:
2978 1. For fiscal year 2023-2024, the amount is 20 percent of
2979 the amount calculated under this paragraph.
2980 2. For fiscal year 2024-2025, the amount is 40 percent of
2981 the amount calculated under this paragraph.
2982 3. For fiscal year 2025-2026, the amount is 60 percent of
2983 the amount calculated under this paragraph.
2984 4. For fiscal year 2026-2027, the amount is 80 percent of
2985 the amount calculated under this paragraph.
2986 5. For fiscal year 2027-2028, and each fiscal year
2987 thereafter, the amount is 100 percent of the amount calculated
2988 under this paragraph.
2989 (e) School districts shall distribute capital outlay funds
2990 to eligible charter schools no later than February 1 of each
2991 year, as required by this subsection, based on the amount of
2992 funds received by the district school board. School districts
2993 shall distribute any remaining capital outlay funds, as required
2994 by this subsection, upon the receipt of such funds until the
2995 total amount calculated pursuant to this subsection is
2996 distributed.
2997
2998 By October 1 of each year, each school district shall certify to
2999 the department the amount of debt service that and participation
3000 requirement that complies with the requirement of paragraph (a)
3001 and can be reduced from the total discretionary millage revenue.
3002 Each school district shall also certify the amount of the
3003 participation requirement that complies with paragraph (a) or
3004 certify the value of 1 mill from revenue generated pursuant to
3005 s. 1013.64(2)(a)8.b. that can be reduced from the total
3006 discretionary millage revenue, as applicable. The Auditor
3007 General shall verify compliance with the requirements of
3008 paragraph (a) and s. 1011.71(2)(e) during scheduled operational
3009 audits of school districts.
3010 Section 44. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
3011 1013.64, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
3012 1013.64 Funds for comprehensive educational plant needs;
3013 construction cost maximums for school district capital
3014 projects.—Allocations from the Public Education Capital Outlay
3015 and Debt Service Trust Fund to the various boards for capital
3016 outlay projects shall be determined as follows:
3017 (2)(a) The department shall establish, as a part of the
3018 Public Education Capital Outlay and Debt Service Trust Fund, a
3019 separate account, in an amount determined by the Legislature, to
3020 be known as the “Special Facility Construction Account.” The
3021 Special Facility Construction Account shall be used to provide
3022 necessary construction funds to school districts which have
3023 urgent construction needs but which lack sufficient resources at
3024 present, and cannot reasonably anticipate sufficient resources
3025 within the period of the next 3 years, for these purposes from
3026 currently authorized sources of capital outlay revenue. A school
3027 district requesting funding from the Special Facility
3028 Construction Account shall submit one specific construction
3029 project, not to exceed one complete educational plant, to the
3030 Special Facility Construction Committee. A district may not
3031 receive funding for more than one approved project in any 3-year
3032 period or while any portion of the district’s participation
3033 requirement is outstanding. The first year of the 3-year period
3034 shall be the first year a district receives an appropriation.
3035 The department shall encourage a construction program that
3036 reduces the average size of schools in the district. The request
3037 must meet the following criteria to be considered by the
3038 committee:
3039 1. The project must be deemed a critical need and must be
3040 recommended for funding by the Special Facility Construction
3041 Committee. Before developing construction plans for the proposed
3042 facility, the district school board must request a
3043 preapplication review by the Special Facility Construction
3044 Committee or a project review subcommittee convened by the chair
3045 of the committee to include two representatives of the
3046 department and two staff members from school districts not
3047 eligible to participate in the program. A school district may
3048 request a preapplication review at any time; however, if the
3049 district school board seeks inclusion in the department’s next
3050 annual capital outlay legislative budget request, the
3051 preapplication review request must be made before February 1.
3052 Within 90 days after receiving the preapplication review
3053 request, the committee or subcommittee must meet in the school
3054 district to review the project proposal and existing facilities.
3055 To determine whether the proposed project is a critical need,
3056 the committee or subcommittee shall consider, at a minimum, the
3057 capacity of all existing facilities within the district as
3058 determined by the Florida Inventory of School Houses; the
3059 district’s pattern of student growth; the district’s existing
3060 and projected capital outlay full-time equivalent student
3061 enrollment as determined by the demographic, revenue, and
3062 education estimating conferences established in s. 216.136; the
3063 district’s existing satisfactory student stations; the use of
3064 all existing district property and facilities; grade level
3065 configurations; and any other information that may affect the
3066 need for the proposed project.
3067 2. The construction project must be recommended in the most
3068 recent survey or survey amendment cooperatively prepared by the
3069 district and the department, and approved by the department
3070 under the rules of the State Board of Education. If a district
3071 employs a consultant in the preparation of a survey or survey
3072 amendment, the consultant may not be employed by or receive
3073 compensation from a third party that designs or constructs a
3074 project recommended by the survey.
3075 3. The construction project must appear on the district’s
3076 approved project priority list under the rules of the State
3077 Board of Education.
3078 4. The district must have selected and had approved a site
3079 for the construction project in compliance with s. 1013.36 and
3080 the rules of the State Board of Education.
3081 5. The district shall have developed a district school
3082 board adopted list of facilities that do not exceed the norm for
3083 net square feet occupancy requirements under the State
3084 Requirements for Educational Facilities, using all possible
3085 programmatic combinations for multiple use of space to obtain
3086 maximum daily use of all spaces within the facility under
3087 consideration.
3088 6. Upon construction, the total cost per student station,
3089 including change orders, must not exceed the cost per student
3090 station as provided in subsection (6) unless approved by the
3091 Special Facility Construction Committee. At the discretion of
3092 the committee, costs that exceed the cost per student station
3093 for special facilities may include legal and administrative
3094 fees, the cost of site improvements or related offsite
3095 improvements, the cost of complying with public shelter and
3096 hurricane hardening requirements, cost overruns created by a
3097 disaster as defined in s. 252.34(2), costs of security
3098 enhancements approved by the school safety specialist, and
3099 unforeseeable circumstances beyond the district’s control.
3100 7. There shall be an agreement signed by the district
3101 school board stating that it will advertise for bids within 30
3102 days of receipt of its encumbrance authorization from the
3103 department.
3104 8.a.(I) For construction projects for which Special
3105 Facilities Construction Account funding is sought before the
3106 2019-2020 fiscal year, the district shall, at the time of the
3107 request and for a continuing period necessary to meet the
3108 district’s participation requirement, levy the maximum millage
3109 against its nonexempt assessed property value as allowed in s.
3110 1011.71(2) or shall raise an equivalent amount of revenue from
3111 the school capital outlay surtax authorized under s. 212.055(6).
3112 (II) Beginning with construction projects for which Special
3113 Facilities Construction Account funding is sought in the 2019
3114 2020 fiscal year, the district shall, for a minimum of 3 years
3115 before submitting the request and for a continuing period
3116 necessary to meet its participation requirement, levy the
3117 maximum millage against the district’s nonexempt assessed
3118 property value as authorized under s. 1011.71(2) or shall raise
3119 an equivalent amount of revenue from the school capital outlay
3120 surtax authorized under s. 212.055(6).
3121 (III) Beginning with the 2026-2027 fiscal year, any
3122 district with an a new or active project or an outstanding
3123 participation requirement balance, funded under the provisions
3124 of this subsection, shall be required to budget no more than the
3125 value of 1 mill per year to the project until the district’s
3126 participation requirement relating to the local discretionary
3127 capital improvement millage or the equivalent amount of revenue
3128 from the school capital outlay surtax is satisfied.
3129 b. For construction projects for which Special Facilities
3130 Construction Account funding is sought beginning in the 2026
3131 2027 fiscal year, the district shall, for a minimum of 3 years
3132 before submitting the request and for the initial year of the
3133 appropriation and the 2 years following the initial
3134 appropriation, levy the maximum millage against the district’s
3135 nonexempt assessed property value as authorized under s.
3136 1011.71(2) or shall raise an equivalent amount of revenue from
3137 the school capital outlay surtax authorized under s. 212.055(6).
3138 The district is not required to budget the funds toward the
3139 project, but must use the funds as authorized pursuant to s.
3140 1011.71 or s. 212.055(6), as applicable.
3141 9. If a contract has not been signed 90 days after the
3142 advertising of bids, the funding for the specific project must
3143 shall revert to the Special Facility New Construction Account to
3144 be reallocated to other projects on the list. However, an
3145 additional 90 days may be granted by the commissioner.
3146 10. The department shall certify the inability of the
3147 district to fund the survey-recommended project over a
3148 continuous 3-year period using projected capital outlay revenue
3149 derived from s. 9(d), Art. XII of the State Constitution, as
3150 amended, paragraph (3)(a) of this section, and s. 1011.71(2).
3151 11.a. For projects funded before the 2026-2027 fiscal year,
3152 the district shall have on file with the department an adopted
3153 resolution acknowledging its commitment to satisfy its
3154 participation requirement, which is equivalent to all
3155 unencumbered and future revenue acquired from s. 9(d), Art. XII
3156 of the State Constitution, as amended, paragraph (3)(a) of this
3157 section, and s. 1011.71(2), in the year of the initial
3158 appropriation and for the 2 years immediately following the
3159 initial appropriation.
3160 b. For projects funded during the 2026-2027 fiscal year,
3161 and thereafter, the district shall have on file with the
3162 department an adopted resolution acknowledging its commitment to
3163 comply with the requirements of this paragraph.
3164 12. Phase I plans must be approved by the district school
3165 board as being in compliance with the building and life safety
3166 codes before June 1 of the year the application is made.
3167 Section 45. For the 2026-2027 fiscal year, the sum of $1
3168 million in recurring funds from the General Revenue Fund is
3169 appropriated to the Florida Small Business Development Center
3170 Network under s. 288.001, Florida Statutes, to expand services
3171 in rural communities. The funds shall be allocated to the Office
3172 of Rural Prosperity budget entity within the Department of
3173 Commerce in the Special Categories–SBDCN Rural Services specific
3174 appropriation category.
3175 Section 46. (1) For the 2026-2027 fiscal year, the sums of
3176 $1,827,591 in recurring funds and $652,327 in nonrecurring funds
3177 are appropriated from the General Revenue Fund to the Department
3178 of Commerce.
3179 (2) The recurring general revenue funds shall be allocated
3180 to the Office of Rural Prosperity budget entity in the following
3181 specific appropriations categories: $1,585,823 in Salaries and
3182 Benefits, $175,961 in Expenses, $50,000 in Contracted Services,
3183 $10,000 in Operating Capital Outlay, and $5,807 in Transfer to
3184 the Department of Management Services/Statewide Human Resources
3185 Contract.
3186 (3) The nonrecurring general revenue funds shall be
3187 allocated to the Office of Rural Prosperity budget entity in the
3188 following specific appropriations categories: $92,327 in
3189 Expenses and $560,000 in Acquisition of Motor Vehicles.
3190 (4) The Department of Commerce is authorized to establish
3191 17.00 full-time equivalent positions with associated salary rate
3192 of 1,060,000 in the Office of Rural Prosperity for the purpose
3193 of implementing this act. The following specific positions,
3194 classifications, and pay plans are authorized: 1.00 Director of
3195 General Operations, Class Code 9327, Pay Grade 940; 15.00
3196 Government Analyst II, Class Code 2225, Pay Grade 026; and 1.00
3197 Administrative Assistant II, Class Code 0712, Pay Grade 018.
3198 Section 47. For the 2026-2027 fiscal year, the recurring
3199 sum of $7 million from the General Revenue Fund is appropriated
3200 to the Office of Rural Prosperity within the Department of
3201 Commerce to implement the Renaissance Grants Program created by
3202 s. 288.014, Florida Statutes. Funds may not be used by the state
3203 for administrative costs.
3204 Section 48. For the 2026-2027 fiscal year, the recurring
3205 sum of $500,000 from the Grants and Donations Trust Fund within
3206 the Department of Commerce is appropriated to the Office of
3207 Rural Prosperity within the Department of Commerce to implement
3208 the Public Infrastructure Smart Technology Grant Program created
3209 by s. 288.0175, Florida Statutes.
3210 Section 49. For the 2026-2027 fiscal year, the sums of $4
3211 million in nonrecurring funds and $1 million in recurring funds
3212 from the General Revenue Fund are appropriated to the Office of
3213 Rural Prosperity within the Department of Commerce to implement
3214 the Rural Community Development Revolving Loan Fund under s.
3215 288.065, Florida Statutes, as amended by this act.
3216 Section 50. For the 2026-2027 fiscal year, the sums of $40
3217 million in nonrecurring funds and $5 million in recurring funds
3218 from the General Revenue Fund are appropriated to the Office of
3219 Rural Prosperity within the Department of Commerce to implement
3220 the Rural Infrastructure Fund under s. 288.0655, Florida
3221 Statutes, as amended by this act.
3222 Section 51. For the 2026-2027 fiscal year, the sum of
3223 $250,000 in recurring funds from the Grants and Donations Trust
3224 Fund within the Department of Commerce is appropriated to the
3225 Office of Rural Prosperity within the Department of Commerce to
3226 implement s. 288.0657, Florida Statutes, as amended by this act.
3227 Section 52. For the 2026-2027 fiscal year, the sum of $30
3228 million in nonrecurring funds from the General Revenue Fund is
3229 appropriated to the Florida Housing Finance Corporation to be
3230 used to preserve affordable multifamily rental housing in rural
3231 communities funded through United States Department of
3232 Agriculture loans. The funds provided in this appropriation must
3233 be used to issue competitive requests for applications for the
3234 rehabilitation or acquisition of such properties to ensure
3235 continued affordability. By October 1, 2027, the Florida Housing
3236 Finance Corporation shall submit a report to the President of
3237 the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives on
3238 projects funded pursuant to this section, which report must
3239 include the number of units preserved and the financing
3240 portfolio for each project.
3241 Section 53. For the 2026-2027 fiscal year, the sum of $25
3242 million in nonrecurring funds from the General Revenue Fund is
3243 appropriated to the Department of Health for the purpose of
3244 implementing the Rural Access to Primary and Preventive Care
3245 Grant Program created under s. 381.403, Florida Statutes. Grant
3246 funds shall be awarded over a 5-year period. Notwithstanding s.
3247 216.301, Florida Statutes, and pursuant to s. 216.351, Florida
3248 Statutes, the unexpended balance of funds appropriated pursuant
3249 to this section which is not disbursed by June 30 of the fiscal
3250 year in which funds are appropriated may be carried forward
3251 through the 2034-2035 fiscal year.
3252 Section 54. For the 2026-2027 fiscal year, the sum of $5
3253 million in nonrecurring funds from the General Revenue Fund is
3254 appropriated to the Department of Health for the purpose of
3255 implementing the Stroke, Cardiac, and Obstetric Response and
3256 Education Grant Program under s. 381.9856, Florida Statutes.
3257 Notwithstanding s. 216.301, Florida Statutes, and pursuant to s.
3258 216.351, Florida Statutes, the unexpended balance of funds
3259 appropriated pursuant to this section which is not disbursed by
3260 June 30 of the fiscal year in which funds are appropriated may
3261 be carried forward through the 2030-2031 fiscal year.
3262 Section 55. For the 2026-2027 fiscal year, the sum of $25
3263 million in nonrecurring funds from the General Revenue Fund is
3264 appropriated to the Department of Health for the purpose of
3265 implementing the rural hospital capital improvement grant
3266 program under s. 395.6061, Florida Statutes.
3267 Section 56. For the 2026-2027 fiscal year, the sums of
3268 $186,729 in recurring funds from the General Revenue Fund and
3269 $250,884 in recurring funds from the Medical Care Trust Fund are
3270 appropriated to the Agency for Health Care Administration to
3271 establish a Diagnosis-Related Grouping (DRG) reimbursement
3272 methodology for critical access hospitals, as defined in s.
3273 408.07, Florida Statutes, for the purpose of providing inpatient
3274 reimbursement to such a hospital in amounts comparable to the
3275 reimbursement the hospital would receive for inpatient services
3276 from the federal Medicare program. The 2026-2027 fiscal year
3277 General Appropriations Act shall establish the DRG reimbursement
3278 methodology for critical access hospital inpatient services as
3279 directed in s. 409.905(5)(c), Florida Statutes. Health plans
3280 that participate in the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care program
3281 shall pass through the fee increase to providers in this
3282 appropriation.
3283 Section 57. For the 2026-2027 fiscal year, the sums of
3284 $7,487,068 in recurring funds from the General Revenue Fund and
3285 $10,059,377 in recurring funds from the Medical Care Trust Fund
3286 are appropriated to the Agency for Health Care Administration to
3287 establish an Enhanced Ambulatory Patient Grouping (EAPG)
3288 reimbursement methodology for critical access hospitals, as
3289 defined in s. 408.07, Florida Statutes, for the purpose of
3290 providing outpatient reimbursement to such a hospital in amounts
3291 comparable to the reimbursement the hospital would receive for
3292 outpatient services from the federal Medicare program. The 2026
3293 2027 fiscal year General Appropriations Act shall establish the
3294 EAPG reimbursement methodology for critical access hospital
3295 outpatient services as directed in s. 409.905(6)(b), Florida
3296 Statutes. Health plans that participate in the Statewide
3297 Medicaid Managed Care program shall pass through the fee
3298 increase to providers in this appropriation.
3299 Section 58. For the 2026-2027 fiscal year, the sum of $3.6
3300 million in recurring funds from the General Revenue Fund is
3301 appropriated to the Department of Education to implement s.
3302 1001.451, Florida Statutes, as amended by this act.
3303 Section 59. For the 2026-2027 fiscal year, the sum of $25
3304 million in recurring funds is appropriated from the General
3305 Revenue Fund to the Department of Education to be distributed to
3306 regional consortium service organizations under s. 1001.451,
3307 Florida Statutes, in order to provide funds pursuant to s.
3308 1001.4511, Florida Statutes. These funds shall be allocated as
3309 follows: $5,555,149 to the Heartland Educational Consortium;
3310 $11,912,923 to the North East Florida Educational Consortium;
3311 and $7,531,928 to the Panhandle Area Educational Consortium. The
3312 funds must be distributed to each regional consortium service
3313 organization no later than 30 days following the release of the
3314 funds to the department.
3315 Section 60. For the 2026-2027 fiscal year, the sum of $7
3316 million in recurring funds from the General Revenue Fund is
3317 appropriated to the Department of Education to implement the
3318 Rural Incentive for Professional Educators (RIPE) Program, s.
3319 1009.635, Florida Statutes, as created by this act.
3320 Section 61. Subsection (3) of section 163.3187, Florida
3321 Statutes, is amended to read:
3322 163.3187 Process for adoption of small scale comprehensive
3323 plan amendment.—
3324 (3) If the small scale development amendment involves a
3325 site within a rural area of opportunity as defined under s.
3326 288.0656 s. 288.0656(2)(d) for the duration of such designation,
3327 the acreage limit listed in subsection (1) must shall be
3328 increased by 100 percent. The local government approving the
3329 small scale plan amendment shall certify to the state land
3330 planning agency that the plan amendment furthers the economic
3331 objectives set forth in the executive order issued under s.
3332 288.0656(7), and the property subject to the plan amendment
3333 shall undergo public review to ensure that all concurrency
3334 requirements and federal, state, and local environmental permit
3335 requirements are met.
3336 Section 62. Section 212.205, Florida Statutes, is amended
3337 to read:
3338 212.205 Sales tax distribution reporting.—By March 15 of
3339 each year, each person who received a distribution pursuant to
3340 s. 212.20(6)(d)7.b. and c. s. 212.20(6)(d)6.b. and c. in the
3341 preceding calendar year shall report to the Office of Economic
3342 and Demographic Research the following information:
3343 (1) An itemized accounting of all expenditures of the funds
3344 distributed in the preceding calendar year, including amounts
3345 spent on debt service.
3346 (2) A statement indicating what portion of the distributed
3347 funds have been pledged for debt service.
3348 (3) The original principal amount and current debt service
3349 schedule of any bonds or other borrowing for which the
3350 distributed funds have been pledged for debt service.
3351 Section 63. Section 257.191, Florida Statutes, is amended
3352 to read:
3353 257.191 Construction grants.—The Division of Library and
3354 Information Services may accept and administer library
3355 construction moneys appropriated to it and shall allocate such
3356 appropriation to municipal, county, and regional libraries in
3357 the form of library construction grants on a matching basis. The
3358 local matching portion shall be no less than the grant amount,
3359 on a dollar-for-dollar basis, up to the maximum grant amount,
3360 unless the matching requirement is waived pursuant to s. 288.019
3361 by s. 288.06561. Initiation of a library construction project 12
3362 months or less prior to the grant award under this section does
3363 shall not affect the eligibility of an applicant to receive a
3364 library construction grant. The division shall adopt rules for
3365 the administration of library construction grants. For the
3366 purposes of this section, s. 257.21 does not apply.
3367 Section 64. Subsection (2) of section 257.193, Florida
3368 Statutes, is amended to read:
3369 257.193 Community Libraries in Caring Program.—
3370 (2) The purpose of the Community Libraries in Caring
3371 Program is to assist libraries in rural communities, as defined
3372 in s. 288.0656(2) and subject to the provisions of s. 288.019 s.
3373 288.06561, to strengthen their collections and services, improve
3374 literacy in their communities, and improve the economic
3375 viability of their communities.
3376 Section 65. Subsection (17) of section 265.283, Florida
3377 Statutes, is amended to read:
3378 265.283 Definitions.—The following definitions shall apply
3379 to ss. 265.281-265.703:
3380 (17) “Underserved arts community assistance program grants”
3381 means grants used by qualified organizations under the Rural
3382 Economic Development Initiative, pursuant to s. 288.0656 and
3383 subject to s. 288.019 ss. 288.0656 and 288.06561, for the
3384 purpose of economic and organizational development for
3385 underserved cultural organizations.
3386 Section 66. Paragraphs (a) and (d) of subsection (3) of
3387 section 288.11621, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
3388 288.11621 Spring training baseball franchises.—
3389 (3) USE OF FUNDS.—
3390 (a) A certified applicant may use funds provided under s.
3391 212.20(6)(d)7.b. s. 212.20(6)(d)6.b. only to:
3392 1. Serve the public purpose of acquiring, constructing,
3393 reconstructing, or renovating a facility for a spring training
3394 franchise.
3395 2. Pay or pledge for the payment of debt service on, or to
3396 fund debt service reserve funds, arbitrage rebate obligations,
3397 or other amounts payable with respect thereto, bonds issued for
3398 the acquisition, construction, reconstruction, or renovation of
3399 such facility, or for the reimbursement of such costs or the
3400 refinancing of bonds issued for such purposes.
3401 3. Assist in the relocation of a spring training franchise
3402 from one unit of local government to another only if the
3403 governing board of the current host local government by a
3404 majority vote agrees to relocation.
3405 (d)1. All certified applicants must place unexpended state
3406 funds received pursuant to s. 212.20(6)(d)7.b. s.
3407 212.20(6)(d)6.b. in a trust fund or separate account for use
3408 only as authorized in this section.
3409 2. A certified applicant may request that the Department of
3410 Revenue suspend further distributions of state funds made
3411 available under s. 212.20(6)(d)7.b. s. 212.20(6)(d)6.b. for 12
3412 months after expiration of an existing agreement with a spring
3413 training franchise to provide the certified applicant with an
3414 opportunity to enter into a new agreement with a spring training
3415 franchise, at which time the distributions shall resume.
3416 3. The expenditure of state funds distributed to an
3417 applicant certified before July 1, 2010, must begin within 48
3418 months after the initial receipt of the state funds. In
3419 addition, the construction of, or capital improvements to, a
3420 spring training facility must be completed within 24 months
3421 after the project’s commencement.
3422 Section 67. Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) and paragraphs
3423 (a), (c), and (d) of subsection (3) of section 288.11631,
3424 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
3425 288.11631 Retention of Major League Baseball spring
3426 training baseball franchises.—
3427 (2) CERTIFICATION PROCESS.—
3428 (c) Each applicant certified on or after July 1, 2013,
3429 shall enter into an agreement with the department which:
3430 1. Specifies the amount of the state incentive funding to
3431 be distributed. The amount of state incentive funding per
3432 certified applicant may not exceed $20 million. However, if a
3433 certified applicant’s facility is used by more than one spring
3434 training franchise, the maximum amount may not exceed $50
3435 million, and the Department of Revenue shall make distributions
3436 to the applicant pursuant to s. 212.20(6)(d)7.c. s.
3437 212.20(6)(d)6.c.
3438 2. States the criteria that the certified applicant must
3439 meet in order to remain certified. These criteria must include a
3440 provision stating that the spring training franchise must
3441 reimburse the state for any funds received if the franchise does
3442 not comply with the terms of the contract. If bonds were issued
3443 to construct or renovate a facility for a spring training
3444 franchise, the required reimbursement must be equal to the total
3445 amount of state distributions expected to be paid from the date
3446 the franchise violates the agreement with the applicant through
3447 the final maturity of the bonds.
3448 3. States that the certified applicant is subject to
3449 decertification if the certified applicant fails to comply with
3450 this section or the agreement.
3451 4. States that the department may recover state incentive
3452 funds if the certified applicant is decertified.
3453 5. Specifies the information that the certified applicant
3454 must report to the department.
3455 6. Includes any provision deemed prudent by the department.
3456 (3) USE OF FUNDS.—
3457 (a) A certified applicant may use funds provided under s.
3458 212.20(6)(d)7.c. s. 212.20(6)(d)6.c. only to:
3459 1. Serve the public purpose of constructing or renovating a
3460 facility for a spring training franchise.
3461 2. Pay or pledge for the payment of debt service on, or to
3462 fund debt service reserve funds, arbitrage rebate obligations,
3463 or other amounts payable with respect thereto, bonds issued for
3464 the construction or renovation of such facility, or for the
3465 reimbursement of such costs or the refinancing of bonds issued
3466 for such purposes.
3467 (c) The Department of Revenue may not distribute funds
3468 under s. 212.20(6)(d)7.c. s. 212.20(6)(d)6.c. until July 1,
3469 2016. Further, the Department of Revenue may not distribute
3470 funds to an applicant certified on or after July 1, 2013, until
3471 it receives notice from the department that:
3472 1. The certified applicant has encumbered funds under
3473 either subparagraph (a)1. or subparagraph (a)2.; and
3474 2. If applicable, any existing agreement with a spring
3475 training franchise for the use of a facility has expired.
3476 (d)1. All certified applicants shall place unexpended state
3477 funds received pursuant to s. 212.20(6)(d)7.c. s.
3478 212.20(6)(d)6.c. in a trust fund or separate account for use
3479 only as authorized in this section.
3480 2. A certified applicant may request that the department
3481 notify the Department of Revenue to suspend further
3482 distributions of state funds made available under s.
3483 212.20(6)(d)7.c. s. 212.20(6)(d)6.c. for 12 months after
3484 expiration of an existing agreement with a spring training
3485 franchise to provide the certified applicant with an opportunity
3486 to enter into a new agreement with a spring training franchise,
3487 at which time the distributions shall resume.
3488 3. The expenditure of state funds distributed to an
3489 applicant certified after July 1, 2013, must begin within 48
3490 months after the initial receipt of the state funds. In
3491 addition, the construction or renovation of a spring training
3492 facility must be completed within 24 months after the project’s
3493 commencement.
3494 Section 68. Subsection (1) of section 443.191, Florida
3495 Statutes, is amended to read:
3496 443.191 Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund; establishment
3497 and control.—
3498 (1) There is established, as a separate trust fund apart
3499 from all other public funds of this state, an Unemployment
3500 Compensation Trust Fund, which shall be administered by the
3501 Department of Commerce exclusively for the purposes of this
3502 chapter. The fund must consist of:
3503 (a) All contributions and reimbursements collected under
3504 this chapter;
3505 (b) Interest earned on any moneys in the fund;
3506 (c) Any property or securities acquired through the use of
3507 moneys belonging to the fund;
3508 (d) All earnings of these properties or securities;
3509 (e) All money credited to this state’s account in the
3510 federal Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund under 42 U.S.C. s.
3511 1103;
3512 (f) All money collected for penalties imposed pursuant to
3513 s. 443.151(6)(a);
3514 (g) Advances on the amount in the federal Unemployment
3515 Compensation Trust Fund credited to the state under 42 U.S.C. s.
3516 1321, as requested by the Governor or the Governor’s designee;
3517 and
3518 (h) All money deposited in this account as a distribution
3519 pursuant to s. 212.20(6)(d)7.e. s. 212.20(6)(d)6.e.
3520
3521 Except as otherwise provided in s. 443.1313(4), all moneys in
3522 the fund must be mingled and undivided.
3523 Section 69. Section 571.26, Florida Statutes, is amended to
3524 read:
3525 571.26 Florida Agricultural Promotional Campaign Trust
3526 Fund.—There is hereby created the Florida Agricultural
3527 Promotional Campaign Trust Fund within the Department of
3528 Agriculture and Consumer Services to receive all moneys related
3529 to the Florida Agricultural Promotional Campaign. Moneys
3530 deposited in the trust fund shall be appropriated for the sole
3531 purpose of implementing the Florida Agricultural Promotional
3532 Campaign, except for money deposited in the trust fund pursuant
3533 to s. 212.20(6)(d)7.e. s. 212.20(6)(d)6.e., which shall be held
3534 separately and used solely for the purposes identified in s.
3535 571.265.
3536 Section 70. Subsection (2) of section 571.265, Florida
3537 Statutes, is amended to read:
3538 571.265 Promotion of Florida thoroughbred breeding and of
3539 thoroughbred racing at Florida thoroughbred tracks; distribution
3540 of funds.—
3541 (2) Funds deposited into the Florida Agricultural
3542 Promotional Campaign Trust Fund pursuant to s. 212.20(6)(d)7.e.
3543 s. 212.20(6)(d)6.e. shall be used by the department to encourage
3544 the agricultural activity of breeding thoroughbred racehorses in
3545 this state and to enhance thoroughbred racing conducted at
3546 thoroughbred tracks in this state as provided in this section.
3547 If the funds made available under this section are not fully
3548 used in any one fiscal year, any unused amounts shall be carried
3549 forward in the trust fund into future fiscal years and made
3550 available for distribution as provided in this section.
3551 Section 71. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3552 made by this act to section 20.60, Florida Statutes, in a
3553 reference thereto, subsection (8) of section 288.9935, Florida
3554 Statutes, is reenacted to read:
3555 288.9935 Microfinance Guarantee Program.—
3556 (8) The department must, in the department’s report
3557 required under s. 20.60(10), include an annual report on the
3558 program. The report must, at a minimum, provide:
3559 (a) A comprehensive description of the program, including
3560 an evaluation of its application and guarantee activities,
3561 recommendations for change, and identification of any other
3562 state programs that overlap with the program;
3563 (b) An assessment of the current availability of and access
3564 to credit for entrepreneurs and small businesses in this state;
3565 (c) A summary of the financial and employment results of
3566 the entrepreneurs and small businesses receiving loan
3567 guarantees, including the number of full-time equivalent jobs
3568 created as a result of the guaranteed loans and the amount of
3569 wages paid to employees in the newly created jobs;
3570 (d) Industry data about the borrowers, including the six
3571 digit North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)
3572 code;
3573 (e) The name and location of lenders that receive loan
3574 guarantees;
3575 (f) The number of loan guarantee applications received;
3576 (g) The number, duration, location, and amount of
3577 guarantees made;
3578 (h) The number and amount of guaranteed loans outstanding,
3579 if any;
3580 (i) The number and amount of guaranteed loans with payments
3581 overdue, if any;
3582 (j) The number and amount of guaranteed loans in default,
3583 if any;
3584 (k) The repayment history of the guaranteed loans made; and
3585 (l) An evaluation of the program’s ability to meet the
3586 financial performance measures and objectives specified in
3587 subsection (3).
3588 Section 72. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3589 made by this act to section 218.67, Florida Statutes, in a
3590 reference thereto, paragraph (c) of subsection (5) of section
3591 125.0104, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
3592 125.0104 Tourist development tax; procedure for levying;
3593 authorized uses; referendum; enforcement.—
3594 (5) AUTHORIZED USES OF REVENUE.—
3595 (c) A county located adjacent to the Gulf of America or the
3596 Atlantic Ocean, except a county that receives revenue from taxes
3597 levied pursuant to s. 125.0108, which meets the following
3598 criteria may use up to 10 percent of the tax revenue received
3599 pursuant to this section to reimburse expenses incurred in
3600 providing public safety services, including emergency medical
3601 services as defined in s. 401.107(3), and law enforcement
3602 services, which are needed to address impacts related to
3603 increased tourism and visitors to an area. However, if taxes
3604 collected pursuant to this section are used to reimburse
3605 emergency medical services or public safety services for tourism
3606 or special events, the governing board of a county or
3607 municipality may not use such taxes to supplant the normal
3608 operating expenses of an emergency medical services department,
3609 a fire department, a sheriff’s office, or a police department.
3610 To receive reimbursement, the county must:
3611 1.a. Generate a minimum of $10 million in annual proceeds
3612 from any tax, or any combination of taxes, authorized to be
3613 levied pursuant to this section;
3614 b. Have at least three municipalities; and
3615 c. Have an estimated population of less than 275,000,
3616 according to the most recent population estimate prepared
3617 pursuant to s. 186.901, excluding the inmate population; or
3618 2. Be a fiscally constrained county as described in s.
3619 218.67(1).
3620
3621 The board of county commissioners must by majority vote approve
3622 reimbursement made pursuant to this paragraph upon receipt of a
3623 recommendation from the tourist development council.
3624 Section 73. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3625 made by this act to section 218.67, Florida Statutes, in a
3626 reference thereto, subsection (3) of section 193.624, Florida
3627 Statutes, is reenacted to read:
3628 193.624 Assessment of renewable energy source devices.—
3629 (3) This section applies to the installation of a renewable
3630 energy source device installed on or after January 1, 2013, to
3631 new and existing residential real property. This section applies
3632 to a renewable energy source device installed on or after
3633 January 1, 2018, to all other real property, except when
3634 installed as part of a project planned for a location in a
3635 fiscally constrained county, as defined in s. 218.67(1), and for
3636 which an application for a comprehensive plan amendment or
3637 planned unit development zoning has been filed with the county
3638 on or before December 31, 2017.
3639 Section 74. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3640 made by this act to section 218.67, Florida Statutes, in a
3641 reference thereto, subsection (2) of section 196.182, Florida
3642 Statutes, is reenacted to read:
3643 196.182 Exemption of renewable energy source devices.—
3644 (2) The exemption provided in this section does not apply
3645 to a renewable energy source device that is installed as part of
3646 a project planned for a location in a fiscally constrained
3647 county, as defined in s. 218.67(1), and for which an application
3648 for a comprehensive plan amendment or planned unit development
3649 zoning has been filed with the county on or before December 31,
3650 2017.
3651 Section 75. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3652 made by this act to section 218.67, Florida Statutes, in a
3653 reference thereto, subsection (1) of section 218.12, Florida
3654 Statutes, is reenacted to read:
3655 218.12 Appropriations to offset reductions in ad valorem
3656 tax revenue in fiscally constrained counties.—
3657 (1) Beginning in fiscal year 2008-2009, the Legislature
3658 shall appropriate moneys to offset the reductions in ad valorem
3659 tax revenue experienced by fiscally constrained counties, as
3660 defined in s. 218.67(1), which occur as a direct result of the
3661 implementation of revisions of Art. VII of the State
3662 Constitution approved in the special election held on January
3663 29, 2008. The moneys appropriated for this purpose shall be
3664 distributed in January of each fiscal year among the fiscally
3665 constrained counties based on each county’s proportion of the
3666 total reduction in ad valorem tax revenue resulting from the
3667 implementation of the revision.
3668 Section 76. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3669 made by this act to section 218.67, Florida Statutes, in a
3670 reference thereto, subsection (1) of section 218.125, Florida
3671 Statutes, is reenacted to read:
3672 218.125 Offset for tax loss associated with certain
3673 constitutional amendments affecting fiscally constrained
3674 counties.—
3675 (1) Beginning in the 2010-2011 fiscal year, the Legislature
3676 shall appropriate moneys to offset the reductions in ad valorem
3677 tax revenue experienced by fiscally constrained counties, as
3678 defined in s. 218.67(1), which occur as a direct result of the
3679 implementation of revisions of ss. 3(f) and 4(b), Art. VII of
3680 the State Constitution which were approved in the general
3681 election held in November 2008. The moneys appropriated for this
3682 purpose shall be distributed in January of each fiscal year
3683 among the fiscally constrained counties based on each county’s
3684 proportion of the total reduction in ad valorem tax revenue
3685 resulting from the implementation of the revisions.
3686 Section 77. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3687 made by this act to section 218.67, Florida Statutes, in a
3688 reference thereto, subsection (1) of section 218.135, Florida
3689 Statutes, is reenacted to read:
3690 218.135 Offset for tax loss associated with reductions in
3691 value of certain citrus fruit packing and processing equipment.—
3692 (1) For the 2018-2019 fiscal year, the Legislature shall
3693 appropriate moneys to offset the reductions in ad valorem tax
3694 revenue experienced by fiscally constrained counties, as defined
3695 in s. 218.67(1), which occur as a direct result of the
3696 implementation of s. 193.4516. The moneys appropriated for this
3697 purpose shall be distributed in January 2019 among the fiscally
3698 constrained counties based on each county’s proportion of the
3699 total reduction in ad valorem tax revenue resulting from the
3700 implementation of s. 193.4516.
3701 Section 78. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3702 made by this act to section 218.67, Florida Statutes, in a
3703 reference thereto, subsection (1) of section 218.136, Florida
3704 Statutes, is reenacted to read:
3705 218.136 Offset for ad valorem revenue loss affecting
3706 fiscally constrained counties.—
3707 (1) Beginning in fiscal year 2025-2026, the Legislature
3708 shall appropriate moneys to offset the reductions in ad valorem
3709 tax revenue experienced by fiscally constrained counties, as
3710 defined in s. 218.67(1), which occur as a direct result of the
3711 implementation of revisions of s. 6(a), Art. VII of the State
3712 Constitution approved in the November 2024 general election. The
3713 moneys appropriated for this purpose shall be distributed in
3714 January of each fiscal year among the fiscally constrained
3715 counties based on each county’s proportion of the total
3716 reduction in ad valorem tax revenue resulting from the
3717 implementation of the revision of s. 6(a), Art. VII of the State
3718 Constitution.
3719 Section 79. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3720 made by this act to section 218.67, Florida Statutes, in a
3721 reference thereto, paragraph (cc) of subsection (2) of section
3722 252.35, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
3723 252.35 Emergency management powers; Division of Emergency
3724 Management.—
3725 (2) The division is responsible for carrying out the
3726 provisions of ss. 252.31-252.90. In performing its duties, the
3727 division shall:
3728 (cc) Administer a revolving loan program for local
3729 government hazard mitigation projects.
3730 Section 80. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3731 made by this act to section 218.67, Florida Statutes, in a
3732 reference thereto, subsection (4) of section 288.102, Florida
3733 Statutes, is reenacted to read:
3734 288.102 Supply Chain Innovation Grant Program.—
3735 (4) A minimum of a one-to-one match of nonstate resources,
3736 including local, federal, or private funds, to the state
3737 contribution is required. An award may not be made for a project
3738 that is receiving or using state funding from another state
3739 source or statutory program, including tax credits. The one-to
3740 one match requirement is waived for a public entity located in a
3741 fiscally constrained county as defined in s. 218.67(1).
3742 Section 81. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3743 made by this act to section 218.67, Florida Statutes, in a
3744 reference thereto, paragraph (h) of subsection (16) of section
3745 403.064, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
3746 403.064 Reuse of reclaimed water.—
3747 (16) By November 1, 2021, domestic wastewater utilities
3748 that dispose of effluent, reclaimed water, or reuse water by
3749 surface water discharge shall submit to the department for
3750 review and approval a plan for eliminating nonbeneficial surface
3751 water discharge by January 1, 2032, subject to the requirements
3752 of this section. The plan must include the average gallons per
3753 day of effluent, reclaimed water, or reuse water that will no
3754 longer be discharged into surface waters and the date of such
3755 elimination, the average gallons per day of surface water
3756 discharge which will continue in accordance with the
3757 alternatives provided for in subparagraphs (a)2. and 3., and the
3758 level of treatment that the effluent, reclaimed water, or reuse
3759 water will receive before being discharged into a surface water
3760 by each alternative.
3761 (h) This subsection does not apply to any of the following:
3762 1. A domestic wastewater treatment facility that is located
3763 in a fiscally constrained county as described in s. 218.67(1).
3764 2. A domestic wastewater treatment facility that is located
3765 in a municipality that is entirely within a rural area of
3766 opportunity as designated pursuant to s. 288.0656.
3767 3. A domestic wastewater treatment facility that is located
3768 in a municipality that has less than $10 million in total
3769 revenue, as determined by the municipality’s most recent annual
3770 financial report submitted to the Department of Financial
3771 Services in accordance with s. 218.32.
3772 4. A domestic wastewater treatment facility that is
3773 operated by an operator of a mobile home park as defined in s.
3774 723.003 and has a permitted capacity of less than 300,000
3775 gallons per day.
3776 Section 82. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3777 made by this act to section 218.67, Florida Statutes, in
3778 references thereto, subsections (2) and (3) of section 589.08,
3779 Florida Statutes, are reenacted to read:
3780 589.08 Land acquisition restrictions.—
3781 (2) The Florida Forest Service may receive, hold the
3782 custody of, and exercise the control of any lands, and set aside
3783 into a separate, distinct and inviolable fund, any proceeds
3784 derived from the sales of the products of such lands, the use
3785 thereof in any manner, or the sale of such lands save the 25
3786 percent of the proceeds to be paid into the State School Fund as
3787 provided by law. The Florida Forest Service may use and apply
3788 such funds for the acquisition, use, custody, management,
3789 development, or improvement of any lands vested in or subject to
3790 the control of the Florida Forest Service. After full payment
3791 has been made for the purchase of a state forest to the Federal
3792 Government or other grantor, 15 percent of the gross receipts
3793 from a state forest shall be paid to the fiscally constrained
3794 county or counties, as described in s. 218.67(1), in which it is
3795 located in proportion to the acreage located in each county for
3796 use by the county or counties for school purposes.
3797 (3) The Florida Forest Service shall pay 15 percent of the
3798 gross receipts from the Goethe State Forest to each fiscally
3799 constrained county, as described in s. 218.67(1), in which a
3800 portion of the respective forest is located in proportion to the
3801 forest acreage located in such county. The funds must be equally
3802 divided between the board of county commissioners and the school
3803 board of each fiscally constrained county.
3804 Section 83. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3805 made by this act to section 218.67, Florida Statutes, in a
3806 reference thereto, paragraph (f) of subsection (1) of section
3807 1011.62, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
3808 1011.62 Funds for operation of schools.—If the annual
3809 allocation from the Florida Education Finance Program to each
3810 district for operation of schools is not determined in the
3811 annual appropriations act or the substantive bill implementing
3812 the annual appropriations act, it shall be determined as
3813 follows:
3814 (1) COMPUTATION OF THE BASE FLORIDA EDUCATION FINANCE
3815 PROGRAM.—The following procedure shall be followed in
3816 determining the base Florida Education Finance Program funds for
3817 each district:
3818 (f) Small district factor.—An additional value per full
3819 time equivalent student membership is provided to each school
3820 district with a full-time equivalent student membership of fewer
3821 than 20,000 full-time equivalent students which is in a fiscally
3822 constrained county as described in s. 218.67(1). The amount of
3823 the additional value shall be specified in the General
3824 Appropriations Act.
3825 Section 84. For the purpose of incorporating the amendments
3826 made by this act to sections 218.67 and 339.2818, Florida
3827 Statutes, in references thereto, paragraph (c) of subsection (6)
3828 of section 403.0741, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
3829 403.0741 Grease waste removal and disposal.—
3830 (6) REGULATION BY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.—
3831 (c) Fiscally constrained counties as described in s.
3832 218.67(1) and small counties as defined in s. 339.2818(2) may
3833 opt out of the requirements of this section.
3834 Section 85. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3835 made by this act to section 288.0656, Florida Statutes, in a
3836 reference thereto, paragraph (e) of subsection (7) of section
3837 163.3177, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
3838 163.3177 Required and optional elements of comprehensive
3839 plan; studies and surveys.—
3840 (7)
3841 (e) This subsection does not confer the status of rural
3842 area of opportunity, or any of the rights or benefits derived
3843 from such status, on any land area not otherwise designated as
3844 such pursuant to s. 288.0656(7).
3845 Section 86. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3846 made by this act to section 288.9961, Florida Statutes, in a
3847 reference thereto, paragraph (a) of subsection (7) of section
3848 288.9962, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
3849 288.9962 Broadband Opportunity Program.—
3850 (7)(a) In evaluating grant applications and awarding
3851 grants, the office must give priority to applications that:
3852 1. Offer broadband Internet service to important community
3853 institutions, including, but not limited to, libraries,
3854 educational institutions, public safety facilities, and health
3855 care facilities;
3856 2. Facilitate the use of telemedicine and electronic health
3857 records;
3858 3. Serve economically distressed areas of this state, as
3859 measured by indices of unemployment, poverty, or population loss
3860 that are significantly greater than the statewide average;
3861 4. Provide for scalability to transmission speeds of at
3862 least 100 megabits per second download and 10 megabits per
3863 second upload;
3864 5. Include a component to actively promote the adoption of
3865 the newly available broadband Internet service in the community;
3866 6. Provide evidence of strong support for the project from
3867 citizens, government, businesses, and institutions in the
3868 community;
3869 7. Provide access to broadband Internet service to the
3870 greatest number of unserved households and businesses;
3871 8. Leverage greater amounts of funding for a project from
3872 private sources; or
3873 9. Demonstrate consistency with the strategic plan adopted
3874 under s. 288.9961.
3875 Section 87. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3876 made by this act to section 319.32, Florida Statutes, in a
3877 reference thereto, subsection (1) of section 215.211, Florida
3878 Statutes, is reenacted to read:
3879 215.211 Service charge; elimination or reduction for
3880 specified proceeds.—
3881 (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 215.20(1) and
3882 former s. 215.20(3), the service charge provided in s. 215.20(1)
3883 and former s. 215.20(3), which is deducted from the proceeds of
3884 the taxes distributed under ss. 206.606(1), 207.026,
3885 212.0501(6), and 319.32(5), shall be eliminated beginning July
3886 1, 2000.
3887 Section 88. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3888 made by this act to section 339.68, Florida Statutes, in
3889 references thereto, subsections (5) and (6) of section 339.66,
3890 Florida Statutes, are reenacted to read:
3891 339.66 Upgrade of arterial highways with controlled access
3892 facilities.—
3893 (5) Any existing applicable requirements relating to
3894 department projects shall apply to projects undertaken by the
3895 department pursuant to this section. The department shall take
3896 into consideration the guidance and recommendations of any
3897 previous studies or reports relevant to the projects authorized
3898 by this section and ss. 339.67 and 339.68, including, but not
3899 limited to, the task force reports prepared pursuant to chapter
3900 2019-43, Laws of Florida.
3901 (6) Any existing applicable requirements relating to
3902 turnpike projects apply to projects undertaken by the Turnpike
3903 Enterprise pursuant to this section. The Turnpike Enterprise
3904 shall take into consideration the guidance and recommendations
3905 of any previous studies or reports relevant to the projects
3906 authorized by this section and ss. 339.67 and 339.68, including,
3907 but not limited to, the task force reports prepared pursuant to
3908 chapter 2019-43, Laws of Florida, and with respect to any
3909 extension of the Florida Turnpike from its northerly terminus in
3910 Wildwood.
3911 Section 89. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3912 made by this act to section 420.9073, Florida Statutes, in
3913 references thereto, subsections (4) and (6) of section 420.9072,
3914 Florida Statutes, are reenacted to read:
3915 420.9072 State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program.—The
3916 State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program is created for the
3917 purpose of providing funds to counties and eligible
3918 municipalities as an incentive for the creation of local housing
3919 partnerships, to expand production of and preserve affordable
3920 housing, to further the housing element of the local government
3921 comprehensive plan specific to affordable housing, and to
3922 increase housing-related employment.
3923 (4) Moneys in the Local Government Housing Trust Fund shall
3924 be distributed by the corporation to each approved county and
3925 eligible municipality within the county as provided in s.
3926 420.9073. Distributions shall be allocated to the participating
3927 county and to each eligible municipality within the county
3928 according to an interlocal agreement between the county
3929 governing authority and the governing body of the eligible
3930 municipality or, if there is no interlocal agreement, according
3931 to population. The portion for each eligible municipality is
3932 computed by multiplying the total moneys earmarked for a county
3933 by a fraction, the numerator of which is the population of the
3934 eligible municipality and the denominator of which is the total
3935 population of the county. The remaining revenues shall be
3936 distributed to the governing body of the county.
3937 (6) The moneys that otherwise would be distributed pursuant
3938 to s. 420.9073 to a local government that does not meet the
3939 program’s requirements for receipts of such distributions shall
3940 remain in the Local Government Housing Trust Fund to be
3941 administered by the corporation.
3942 Section 90. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3943 made by this act to section 420.9073, Florida Statutes, in a
3944 reference thereto, paragraph (b) of subsection (7) of section
3945 420.9076, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
3946 420.9076 Adoption of affordable housing incentive
3947 strategies; committees.—
3948 (7) The governing board of the county or the eligible
3949 municipality shall notify the corporation by certified mail of
3950 its adoption of an amendment of its local housing assistance
3951 plan to incorporate local housing incentive strategies. The
3952 notice must include a copy of the approved amended plan.
3953 (b) If a county fails to timely adopt an amended local
3954 housing assistance plan to incorporate local housing incentive
3955 strategies but an eligible municipality receiving a local
3956 housing distribution pursuant to an interlocal agreement within
3957 the county does timely adopt an amended local housing assistance
3958 plan to incorporate local housing incentive strategies, the
3959 corporation, after issuance of a notice of termination, shall
3960 thereafter distribute directly to the participating eligible
3961 municipality its share calculated in the manner provided in s.
3962 420.9073.
3963 Section 91. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
3964 made by this act to section 420.9073, Florida Statutes, in a
3965 reference thereto, subsection (2) of section 420.9079, Florida
3966 Statutes, is reenacted to read:
3967 420.9079 Local Government Housing Trust Fund.—
3968 (2) The corporation shall administer the fund exclusively
3969 for the purpose of implementing the programs described in ss.
3970 420.907-420.9076 and this section. With the exception of
3971 monitoring the activities of counties and eligible
3972 municipalities to determine local compliance with program
3973 requirements, the corporation shall not receive appropriations
3974 from the fund for administrative or personnel costs. For the
3975 purpose of implementing the compliance monitoring provisions of
3976 s. 420.9075(9), the corporation may request a maximum of one
3977 quarter of 1 percent of the annual appropriation per state
3978 fiscal year. When such funding is appropriated, the corporation
3979 shall deduct the amount appropriated prior to calculating the
3980 local housing distribution pursuant to ss. 420.9072 and
3981 420.9073.
3982 Section 92. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.