CS/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 an appropriation;
14requiring the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic
15Development to consult with certain entities to create a
16framework and strategy for the use of funds to promote
17research and development, commercialization of research,
18economic diversification, and job creation in the Counties
19of Bay, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa,
20Wakulla, and Walton; providing criteria for such use;
21providing for expiration; 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), except for the Rural Job Tax Credit Program
56under ss. 212.098 and 220.1895, and is exempt from the
57requirements of paragraph (7)(b).
58     (c)  Between July 1, 2011, and June 29, 2014, if the Office
59of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development determines it is in
60the best interest of the public for reasons of facilitating
61economic development, growth, or new employment in the area
62designated under this subsection, the office may allow a
63qualified target industry business that relocates all or a
64portion of its business to the area from another state to
65receive a tax refund payment of up to $6,000 multiplied by the
66number of jobs specified in the tax refund agreement pursuant to
67s. 288.106(5)(a)1. The business is eligible for an additional
68tax refund payment pursuant to s. 288.106(3)(b)4. if the
69business meets the criteria provided in that subparagraph. A
70project pursuant to this paragraph must meet all of the criteria
71provided in s. 288.106 unless such requirement is expressly
72waived 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
75million in nonrecurring funds from the General Revenue Fund is
76appropriated to the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic
77Development to assist in diversifying the regional economy for
78the Counties of Bay, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Okaloosa, Santa
79Rosa, Wakulla, and Walton. The funds may be used to recruit or
80expand targeted industries or businesses in the region, promote
81research and development, promote commercialization of research,
82support job creation, and provide funding for matching grant
83opportunities with federal and private grants. The funds may not
84be used to pay for administrative costs.
85     (2)  The Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development
86shall consult with local educational entities, economic
87development organizations, local governments, and Florida's
88Great Northwest, Inc., to create a framework and strategy for
89the use of funds and shall consider local support from these
90entities before approving any project. In order to promote
91research and development, commercialization of research,
92economic diversification, and job creation in the Counties of
93Bay, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla,
94and Walton, the criteria for the use of funds shall, at a
95minimum, require local match, job creation, return on
96investment, or capital investment, and shall require expedited
97permitting when appropriate and possible by the local
98governments required to issue permits. Funds may be used, on a
99case-by-case basis, for:
100     (a)  Universities and other institutions to conduct
101research for existing and prospective businesses, particularly
102in the disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and
103mathematics, and to provide funding for the commercialization of
104research that will result in the creation of new jobs.
105     (b)  Direct recruiting of new businesses to Northwest
106Florida, including prospect visits, the development of economic
107development information and materials needed to compete with
108other states, and events that showcase the region to prospective
109industry sectors.
110     (c)  Supplementing existing state and local incentives for
111the direct recruitment and expansion of companies in Northwest
112Florida, including funding for bridging the gap between
113incentives available in this state and incentives available in
114competing jurisdictions.
115     (d)  Matching grant opportunities for job creation, job
116training, 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.