Bill Text: FL H1309 | 2011 | Regular Session | Comm Sub

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Economic Recovery/Deepwater Horizon Disaster

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 7-3-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-05-07 - Indefinitely postponed and withdrawn from consideration [H1309 Detail]

Download: Florida-2011-H1309-Comm_Sub.html

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CS/CS/HB 1309

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to economic recovery from the Deepwater
3	Horizon disaster; amending s. 288.0656, F.S.; designating
4	the Counties of Bay, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Okaloosa,
5	Santa Rosa, Wakulla, and Walton, and the municipalities
6	within those counties, as a rural area of critical
7	economic concern for purposes of the Rural Economic
8	Development Initiative; providing that the area is a
9	priority assignment, eligible for certain waivers, and
10	exempt from specified requirements; providing for a
11	qualified target industry business that relocates all or a
12	portion of its business to the area from another state to
13	receive tax refund payments; providing an appropriation;
14	requiring the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic
15	Development to consult with certain entities to create a
16	framework and strategy for the use of funds to promote
17	research and development, commercialization of research,
18	economic diversification, and job creation in the Counties
19	of Bay, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa,
20	Wakulla, and Walton; providing criteria for such use;
21	providing for expiration; providing an effective date.
22
23	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
24
25	Section 1.  Subsections (3) and (4) and paragraph (c) of
26	subsection (6) of section 288.0656, Florida Statutes, are
27	amended, and subsection (9) is added to that section, to read:
28	288.0656  Rural Economic Development Initiative.-
29	(3)  REDI shall be responsible for coordinating and
30	focusing the efforts and resources of state and regional
31	agencies on the problems which affect the fiscal, economic, and
32	community viability of Florida's economically distressed rural
33	communities and rural areas of critical economic concern,
34	working with local governments, community-based organizations,
35	and private organizations that have an interest in the growth
36	and development of these communities to find ways to balance
37	environmental and growth management issues with local needs.
38	(4)  REDI shall review and evaluate the impact of statutes
39	and rules on rural communities and rural areas of critical
40	economic concern and shall work to minimize any adverse impact
41	and undertake outreach and capacity-building efforts.
42	(6)
43	(c)  The REDI representatives shall work with REDI in the
44	review and evaluation of statutes and rules for adverse impact
45	on rural communities and rural areas of critical economic
46	concern and the development of alternative proposals to mitigate
47	that impact.
48	(9)(a)  For purposes of this section, the Counties of Bay,
49	Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, and
50	Walton, and the municipalities within those counties, are
51	designated as a rural area of critical economic concern.
52	(b)  The area is a priority assignment for REDI and
53	eligible for waiver of criteria, requirements, or similar
54	provisions of any economic development incentive pursuant to
55	paragraph (7)(a), except for the Rural Job Tax Credit Program
56	under ss. 212.098 and 220.1895, and is exempt from the
57	requirements of paragraph (7)(b).
58	(c)  Between July 1, 2011, and June 29, 2014, if the Office
59	of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development determines it is in
60	the best interest of the public for reasons of facilitating
61	economic development, growth, or new employment in the area
62	designated under this subsection, the office may allow a
63	qualified target industry business that relocates all or a
64	portion of its business to the area from another state to
65	receive a tax refund payment of up to $6,000 multiplied by the
66	number of jobs specified in the tax refund agreement pursuant to
67	s. 288.106(5)(a)1. The business is eligible for an additional
68	tax refund payment pursuant to s. 288.106(3)(b)4. if the
69	business meets the criteria provided in that subparagraph. A
70	project pursuant to this paragraph must meet all of the criteria
71	provided in s. 288.106 unless such requirement is expressly
72	waived by the Governor.
73	(d)  This subsection expires on June 30, 2014.
74	Section 2.  (1)  For fiscal year 2011-2012, the sum of $10
75	million in nonrecurring funds from the General Revenue Fund is
76	appropriated to the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic
77	Development to assist in diversifying the regional economy for
78	the Counties of Bay, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Okaloosa, Santa
79	Rosa, Wakulla, and Walton. The funds may be used to recruit or
80	expand targeted industries or businesses in the region, promote
81	research and development, promote commercialization of research,
82	support job creation, and provide funding for matching grant
83	opportunities with federal and private grants. The funds may not
84	be used to pay for administrative costs.
85	(2)  The Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development
86	shall consult with local educational entities, economic
87	development organizations, local governments, and Florida's
88	Great Northwest, Inc., to create a framework and strategy for
89	the use of funds and shall consider local support from these
90	entities before approving any project. In order to promote
91	research and development, commercialization of research,
92	economic diversification, and job creation in the Counties of
93	Bay, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla,
94	and Walton, the criteria for the use of funds shall, at a
95	minimum, require local match, job creation, return on
96	investment, or capital investment, and shall require expedited
97	permitting when appropriate and possible by the local
98	governments required to issue permits. Funds may be used, on a
99	case-by-case basis, for:
100	(a)  Universities and other institutions to conduct
101	research for existing and prospective businesses, particularly
102	in the disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and
103	mathematics, and to provide funding for the commercialization of
104	research that will result in the creation of new jobs.
105	(b)  Direct recruiting of new businesses to Northwest
106	Florida, including prospect visits, the development of economic
107	development information and materials needed to compete with
108	other states, and events that showcase the region to prospective
109	industry sectors.
110	(c)  Supplementing existing state and local incentives for
111	the direct recruitment and expansion of companies in Northwest
112	Florida, including funding for bridging the gap between
113	incentives available in this state and incentives available in
114	competing jurisdictions.
115	(d)  Matching grant opportunities for job creation, job
116	training, or university research needed to develop new products.
117	(3)  This section expires on June 30, 2014.
118	Section 3.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2011.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.