CS/HB 1309

1
A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to economic recovery from the Deepwater
3Horizon disaster; amending s. 288.0656, F.S.; designating
4the Counties of Bay, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Okaloosa,
5Santa Rosa, Wakulla, and Walton, and the municipalities
6within those counties, as a rural area of critical
7economic concern for purposes of the Rural Economic
8Development Initiative; providing that the area is a
9priority assignment, eligible for certain waivers, and
10exempt from specified requirements; providing for a
11qualified target industry business that relocates all or a
12portion of its business to the area from another state to
13receive tax refund payments; providing appropriations;
14providing for reserve, release, use, and reversion of
15appropriated funds; requiring the Office of Tourism,
16Trade, and Economic Development to contract with Florida's
17Great Northwest, Inc., to develop and implement an
18economic development program in the Counties of Bay,
19Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla,
20and Walton; providing contract requirements; providing for
21expiration; providing an effective date.
22
23Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
24
25     Section 1.  Subsections (3) and (4) and paragraph (c) of
26subsection (6) of section 288.0656, Florida Statutes, are
27amended, 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
30focusing the efforts and resources of state and regional
31agencies on the problems which affect the fiscal, economic, and
32community viability of Florida's economically distressed rural
33communities and rural areas of critical economic concern,
34working with local governments, community-based organizations,
35and private organizations that have an interest in the growth
36and development of these communities to find ways to balance
37environmental and growth management issues with local needs.
38     (4)  REDI shall review and evaluate the impact of statutes
39and rules on rural communities and rural areas of critical
40economic concern and shall work to minimize any adverse impact
41and undertake outreach and capacity-building efforts.
42     (6)
43     (c)  The REDI representatives shall work with REDI in the
44review and evaluation of statutes and rules for adverse impact
45on rural communities and rural areas of critical economic
46concern and the development of alternative proposals to mitigate
47that impact.
48     (9)(a)  For purposes of this section, the Counties of Bay,
49Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, and
50Walton, and the municipalities within those counties, are
51designated as a rural area of critical economic concern.
52     (b)  The area is a priority assignment for REDI and
53eligible for waiver of criteria, requirements, or similar
54provisions of any economic development incentive pursuant to
55paragraph (7)(a) and is exempt from the requirements of
56paragraph (7)(b).
57     (c)  Between July 1, 2011, and June 29, 2014, if the Office
58of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development determines it is in
59the best interest of the public for reasons of facilitating
60economic development, growth, or new employment in the area
61designated under this subsection, the office may allow a
62qualified target industry business that relocates all or a
63portion of its business to the area from another state to
64receive a tax refund payment of up to $6,000 multiplied by the
65number of jobs specified in the tax refund agreement pursuant to
66s. 288.106(5)(a)1. The business is eligible for an additional
67tax refund payment pursuant to s. 288.106(3)(b)4. if the
68business meets the criteria provided in that subparagraph. A
69project pursuant to this paragraph must meet all of the criteria
70provided in s. 288.106 unless such requirement is expressly
71waived by the Governor.
72     (d)  This subsection expires on June 30, 2014.
73     Section 2.  (1)  For fiscal years 2011-2012, 2012-2013, and
742013-2014, the sum of $10 million per fiscal year in recurring
75funds from the General Revenue Fund is appropriated to the
76Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development for the
77purpose of contracting with Florida's Great Northwest, Inc., to
78develop and implement an innovative economic development program
79to promote research and development, commercialization of
80research, economic diversification, and job creation in the
81Counties of Bay, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa,
82Wakulla, and Walton. The funds shall be placed in reserve by the
83Executive Office of the Governor and may be released as
84authorized by law or the Legislative Budget Commission. The
85funds may not be used to pay for the administrative costs of
86Florida's Great Northwest, Inc. Any funds remaining on June 30,
872014, shall revert to the General Revenue Fund.
88     (2)  The contract shall, at a minimum, require Florida's
89Great Northwest, Inc., to report quarterly to the Office of
90Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development and to collaborate with
91educational entities, economic development organizations, local
92governments, and relevant state agencies to create a program
93framework and strategy, including specific criteria for the
94expenditure of funds. The criteria for the expenditure of funds
95shall, at a minimum, require a funding preference for the
96Counties of Bay, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa,
97Wakulla, and Walton, and the municipalities within those
98counties, which provides for expedited permitting in order to
99promote research and development, commercialization of research,
100economic diversification, and job creation within those
101jurisdictions.
102     (3)  This section expires on June 30, 2014.
103     Section 3.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2011.


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