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


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Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-05-07 - Indefinitely postponed and withdrawn from consideration [H1309 Detail]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
CS/CS/CS/HB 1309

1
A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to economic recovery from the Deepwater
3Horizon disaster; creating s. 288.1062, F.S.; defining the
4term "disproportionally affected county"; providing
5conditions under which the Governor and the Office of
6Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development may waive
7specified job, wage, and local financial support
8eligibility requirements for certain projects; providing a
9limitation; providing for a qualified target industry
10business that relocates from another state to a
11disproportionally affected county to receive certain tax
12refund payments; providing for expiration of the section;
13providing an appropriation; requiring the Office of
14Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development to consult with
15certain entities to create a framework and strategy for
16the use of the funds to promote research and development,
17commercialization of research, economic diversification,
18and job creation in the Counties of Bay, Escambia,
19Franklin, Gulf, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, and Walton;
20providing criteria for such use; directing the Board of
21Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund to provide
22specified recommendations to the Legislature; providing an
23effective date.
24
25Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
26
27     Section 1.  Section 288.1062, Florida Statutes, is created
28to read:
29     288.1062  Special incentives for disproportionally affected
30counties.-
31     (1)  For purposes of this section, the term
32"disproportionally affected county" means Bay County, Escambia
33County, Franklin County, Gulf County, Okaloosa County, Santa
34Rosa County, Wakulla County, or Walton County.
35     (2)(a)  Between July 1, 2011, and June 30, 2014, if the
36Governor determines it is in the best interest of the public for
37reasons of facilitating economic development, growth, or new
38employment opportunities within a disproportionally affected
39county:
40     1.  The Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development
41may waive any or all job or wage eligibility requirements under
42s. 288.063, s. 288.065, s. 288.0655, s. 288.0657, s. 288.0659,
43s. 288.107, s. 288.108, s. 288.1081, s. 288.1088, or s. 288.1089
44up to the cumulative amount of $5 million of all state
45incentives received per project. Before granting the waiver, the
46director of the office shall file with the Governor a written
47statement of the conditions and circumstances constituting the
48reason for the waiver.
49     2.  The Governor may waive any or all job or wage
50eligibility requirements under s. 288.063, s. 288.065, s.
51288.0655, s. 288.0657, s. 288.0659, s. 288.107, s. 288.108, s.
52288.1081, s. 288.1088, or s. 288.1089 for cumulative amounts in
53excess of $5 million but less than $10 million of all state
54incentives received per project. Before granting the waiver, the
55Governor shall provide written notice of the action at least 5
56business days before the effective date to the chair and vice
57chair of the Legislative Budget Commission. If the chair or vice
58chair of the Legislative Budget Commission advises the Governor
59in writing within 5 business days before the effective date that
60the action exceeds the delegated authority of the Governor or is
61contrary to legislative policy or intent, the Governor shall
62void the action.
63     (b)  Neither the Governor nor the Office of Tourism, Trade,
64and Economic Development may waive job and wage eligibility
65requirements under s. 288.063, s. 288.065, s. 288.0655, s.
66288.0657, s. 288.0659, s. 288.107, s. 288.108, s. 288.1081, s.
67288.1088, or s. 288.1089 for cumulative amounts of $10 million
68or more of all state incentives received per project.
69     (3)  Between July 1, 2011, and June 30, 2014, if the
70Governor determines it is in the best interest of the public for
71reasons of facilitating economic development, growth, or new
72employment opportunities within a disproportionally affected
73county, the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development
74may waive any or all wage or local financial support eligibility
75requirements and allow a qualified target industry business from
76another state which locates all or a portion of its business to
77a disproportionally affected county to receive a tax refund
78payment of up to $6,000 multiplied by the number of jobs
79specified in the tax refund agreement under s. 288.106(5)(a)1.
80over the term of the agreement. Before granting the waiver, the
81director of the office shall file with the Governor a written
82statement of the conditions and circumstances constituting the
83reason for the waiver. The business is eligible for an
84additional tax refund payment under s. 288.106(3)(b)4. if the
85business meets the criteria provided in that subparagraph.
86     (4)  This section expires July 1, 2014.
87     Section 2.  (1)  For fiscal year 2011-2012, the sum of $10
88million in nonrecurring funds from the General Revenue Fund is
89appropriated to the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic
90Development to assist in diversifying the regional economy for
91the Counties of Bay, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Okaloosa, Santa
92Rosa, Wakulla, and Walton. The funds may be used to recruit or
93expand targeted industries or businesses in the region, promote
94research and development, promote commercialization of research,
95support job creation, and provide funding for matching grant
96opportunities with federal and private grants. The funds may not
97be used to pay for administrative costs.
98     (2)  The Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development
99shall consult with local educational entities, economic
100development organizations, local governments, and Florida's
101Great Northwest, Inc., to create a framework and strategy for
102the use of funds appropriated under subsection (1) and shall
103consider local support from these entities before approving any
104project. In order to promote research and development,
105commercialization of research, economic diversification, and job
106creation in the Counties of Bay, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf,
107Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, and Walton, the criteria for the
108use of such funds shall, at a minimum, require local match, job
109creation, return on investment, or capital investment, and shall
110require expedited permitting when appropriate and possible by
111the local governments required to issue permits. Funds may be
112used, on a case-by-case basis, for:
113     (a)  Universities and other institutions to conduct
114research for existing and prospective businesses, particularly
115in the disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and
116mathematics, and to provide funding for the commercialization of
117research that will result in the creation of new jobs.
118     (b)  Direct recruiting of new businesses to Northwest
119Florida, including prospect visits, the development of economic
120development information and materials needed to compete with
121other states, and events that showcase the region to prospective
122industry sectors.
123     (c)  Supplementing existing state and local incentives for
124the direct recruitment and expansion of companies in Northwest
125Florida, including funding for bridging the gap between
126incentives available in this state and incentives available in
127competing jurisdictions.
128     (d)  Matching grant opportunities for job creation, job
129training, or university research needed to develop new products.
130     Section 3.  No later than February 1, 2013, the Board of
131Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund shall provide
132recommendations to the Legislature as to whether any existing
133multistate compact for mutual aid should be modified or whether
134the state should enter into a new multistate compact to address
135the impacts of the Deepwater Horizon disaster or potentially
136similar future incidents.
137     Section 4.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2011.


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