The Florida Senate

290.0491  Florida Empowerment Zones.--

(1)  SHORT TITLE.--This section may be cited as the "Florida Empowerment Zone Act."

(2)  DEFINITIONS.--As used in this section, the term:

(a)  "Department" means the Department of Community Affairs.

(b)  "Federal Empowerment Zone Program" means the empowerment zone program established in 26 U.S.C. ss. 1391 et seq.

(c)  "Nominated area" means an area nominated for participation in the Federal Empowerment Zone Program.

(d)  "Sponsoring designee" means the lead entity that applied for and received the empowerment zone designation, but does not include other entities that joined in the application.

(3)  LEGISLATIVE INTENT.--The Legislature recognizes that it is in the public interest that the state create economic opportunity in poverty-stricken areas and rebuild such areas by empowering the people and communities within these areas to create jobs and opportunities. The United States Congress in 1997 provided that an additional 20 areas may be designated as federal empowerment zones by January 1, 1999, and, as such, be eligible for federal funding under the Federal Empowerment Zone Program. The Legislature seeks to promote local governments in submitting the strongest possible proposals under the Federal Empowerment Zone Program by establishing a companion state empowerment zone program.

(4)  EMPOWERMENT ZONE PROGRAM.--There is created an economic development program to be known as the Florida Empowerment Zone Program. The program shall exist for 10 years and, except as otherwise provided by law, be operated by the Department of Community Affairs in conjunction with the Federal Empowerment Zone Program.

(5)  FUNDING.--For fiscal year 1999-2000, the sum of $3,500,000 in nonrecurring general revenue is appropriated to the Department of Community Affairs to implement this act. The funds must be distributed by the department to each sponsoring designee within the state which was announced in January 1999 as having the Federal Empowerment Zone designation under 26 U.S.C. s. 1391(g) or to each community that was awarded in January 1999 the Rural Enterprise Community designation. From those funds, at least $3,210,000, but not more than $3,275,000, must be distributed to an urban sponsoring designee and at least $220,000, but not more than $225,000, must be distributed to a rural sponsoring designee or rural enterprise community. The funds must be used for the benefit of the nominated area and are contingent upon the sponsoring designee or Rural Enterprise Community receiving Empowerment Zone or Enterprise Community funds under federal law and meeting the local-match requirements imposed by the Federal Empowerment or Enterprise Community regulations and this section.

History.--s. 1, ch. 99-342.