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The Florida Senate

2006 Florida Statutes

SECTION 3103
Levy of tax on severance of phosphate rock; rate, basis, and distribution of tax.
Section 211.3103, Florida Statutes 2006

211.3103  Levy of tax on severance of phosphate rock; rate, basis, and distribution of tax.--

(1)  There is hereby levied an excise tax upon every person engaging in the business of severing phosphate rock from the soils or waters of this state for commercial use. The tax shall be collected, administered, and enforced by the department.

(2)  Beginning July 1, 2003, the proceeds of all taxes, interest, and penalties imposed under this section shall be paid into the State Treasury as follows:

(a)  The first $10 million in revenue collected from the tax during each fiscal year shall be paid to the credit of the Conservation and Recreation Lands Trust Fund.

(b)  The remaining revenues collected from the tax during that fiscal year, after the required payment under paragraph (a), shall be paid into the State Treasury as follows:

1.  For payment to counties in proportion to the number of tons of phosphate rock produced from a phosphate rock matrix located within such political boundary, 18.75 percent. The department shall distribute this portion of the proceeds annually based on production information reported by the producers on the annual returns for the taxable year. Any such proceeds received by a county shall be used only for phosphate-related expenses.

2.  For payment to counties that have been designated a rural area of critical economic concern pursuant to s. 288.0656 in proportion to the number of tons of phosphate rock produced from a phosphate rock matrix located within such political boundary, 15 percent. The department shall distribute this portion of the proceeds annually based on production information reported by the producers on the annual returns for the taxable year.

3.  To the credit of the Phosphate Research Trust Fund in the Department of Education, Division of Universities, 11.25 percent.

4.  To the credit of the Minerals Trust Fund, 11.25 percent.

5.  To the credit of the Nonmandatory Land Reclamation Trust Fund, 43.75 percent.

(3)  Beginning July 1, 2004, the proceeds of all taxes, interest, and penalties imposed under this section shall be paid into the State Treasury as follows:

(a)  The first $10 million in revenue collected from the tax during each fiscal year shall be paid to the credit of the Conservation and Recreation Lands Trust Fund.

(b)  The remaining revenues collected from the tax during that fiscal year, after the required payment under paragraph (a), shall be paid into the State Treasury as follows:

1.  To the credit of the General Revenue Fund of the state, 40.1 percent.

2.  For payment to counties in proportion to the number of tons of phosphate rock produced from a phosphate rock matrix located within such political boundary, 16.5 percent. The department shall distribute this portion of the proceeds annually based on production information reported by the producers on the annual returns for the taxable year. Any such proceeds received by a county shall be used only for phosphate-related expenses.

3.  For payment to counties that have been designated a rural area of critical economic concern pursuant to s. 288.0656 in proportion to the number of tons of phosphate rock produced from a phosphate rock matrix located within such political boundary, 13 percent. The department shall distribute this portion of the proceeds annually based on production information reported by the producers on the annual returns for the taxable year. Payments under this subparagraph shall be made to the counties unless the Legislature by special act creates a local authority to promote and direct the economic development of the county. If such authority exists, payments shall be made to that authority.

4.  To the credit of the Phosphate Research Trust Fund in the Division of Universities of the Department of Education, 9.3 percent.

5.  To the credit of the Minerals Trust Fund, 10.7 percent.

6.  To the credit of the Nonmandatory Land Reclamation Trust Fund, 10.4 percent.

(4)  Beginning July 1, 2003, and annually thereafter, the Department of Environmental Protection may use up to $2 million of the funds in the Nonmandatory Land Reclamation Trust Fund to purchase a surety bond or a policy of insurance, the proceeds of which would pay the cost of restoration, reclamation, and cleanup of any phosphogypsum stack system and phosphate mining activities in the event that an operator or permittee thereof has been subject to a final order of bankruptcy and all funds available therefrom are determined to be inadequate to accomplish such restoration, reclamation, and cleanup. This section does not imply that such operator or permittee is thereby relieved of its obligations or relieved of any liabilities pursuant to any other remedies at law, administrative remedies, statutory remedies, or remedies pursuant to bankruptcy law. The department shall adopt rules to implement this subsection, including the purchase and oversight of the bond or policy.

(5)  Funds distributed pursuant to subparagraphs (2)(b)2. and (3)(b)3. shall be used for:

(a)  Planning, preparing, and financing of infrastructure projects for job creation and capital investment, especially those related to industrial and commercial sites. Infrastructure investments may include the following public or public-private partnership facilities: stormwater systems, telecommunications facilities, roads or other remedies to transportation impediments, nature-based tourism facilities, or other physical requirements necessary to facilitate trade and economic development activities.

(b)  Maximizing the use of federal, local, and private resources, including, but not limited to, those available under the Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Program.

(c)  Projects that improve inadequate infrastructure that has resulted in regulatory action that prohibits economic or community growth, if such projects are related to specific job creation or job retention opportunities.

(6)  Beginning January 1, 2004, the tax rate shall be the base rate of $1.62 per ton severed.

(7)  Beginning January 1, 2005, and annually thereafter, the tax rate shall be the base rate times the base rate adjustment for the tax year as calculated by the department in accordance with subsection (9).

(8)  The excise tax levied by this section shall apply to the total production of the producer during the taxable year, measured on the basis of bone-dry tons produced at the point of severance.

(9)(a)  On or before March 30, 2004, and annually thereafter, the department shall calculate the base rate adjustment, if any, for phosphate rock based on the change in the unadjusted annual producer price index for the prior calendar year in relation to the unadjusted annual producer price index for calendar year 1999.

(b)  For the purposes of determining the base rate adjustment for any year, the base rate adjustment shall be a fraction, the numerator of which is the unadjusted annual producer price index for the prior calendar year and the denominator of which is the unadjusted annual producer price index for calendar year 1999.

(c)  The department shall provide the base rate, the base rate adjustment, and the resulting tax rate to affected producers by written notice on or before April 15 of the current year.

(d)  If the producer price index for chemical and fertilizer mineral mining is substantially revised, the department shall make appropriate adjustment in the method used to compute the base rate adjustment under this subsection which will produce results reasonably consistent with the result which would have been obtained if the producer price index for phosphate rock primary products had not been revised. However, the tax rate shall not be less than $1.56 per ton severed.

(e)  In the event the producer price index for phosphate rock primary products is discontinued, then a comparable index shall be selected by the department and adopted by rule.

(10)  The excise tax levied on the severance of phosphate rock shall be in addition to any ad valorem taxes levied upon the separately assessed mineral interest in the real property upon which the site of severance is located, or any other tax, permit, or license fee imposed by the state or its political subdivisions.

(11)  The tax levied by this section shall be collected in the manner prescribed in s. 211.33

History.--s. 3, ch. 81-35; s. 1, ch. 82-184; s. 9, ch. 84-330; s. 6, ch. 87-96; s. 4, ch. 91-305; s. 3, ch. 91-420; s. 3, ch. 94-197; s. 10, ch. 96-321; s. 24, ch. 2000-170; s. 2, ch. 2000-176; s. 22, ch. 2000-317; s. 11, ch. 2002-218; s. 1, ch. 2003-423.