Senate Bill 2074e1
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1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to taxation; amending s.
3 212.20, F.S.; providing for the Department of
4 Revenue to distribute sales tax reimbursements
5 to certified sports industry economic
6 development projects under certain
7 circumstances; providing a lump sum payment to
8 the International Game Fish Association World
9 Center; reducing the maximum number of monthly
10 distributions to account for the lump sum
11 payment; amending s. 213.053, F.S.; extending
12 the current information sharing with the Office
13 of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development to
14 include the sales tax reimbursement program for
15 certified sports industry economic development
16 projects; creating s. 288.113, F.S.; creating a
17 tax reimbursement program for certified sports
18 industry economic development projects;
19 providing legislative findings and
20 declarations; providing definitions; providing
21 eligibility criteria for amateur sports
22 businesses; prescribing the terms and amounts
23 of tax reimbursements; providing a
24 certification procedure, to be established and
25 administered by the Office of Tourism, Trade,
26 and Economic Development; providing for
27 periodic recertification; abating or reducing
28 funding in specified circumstances; providing a
29 maximum number of years for which an amateur
30 sports business may be certified; providing for
31 decertification; providing a penalty for
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1 falsifying an application; providing for a tax
2 reimbursement agreement and prescribing terms
3 of the agreement; providing for annual claims
4 for reimbursement; providing duties of the
5 Department of Revenue; providing for
6 administration of the program; providing for
7 recordkeeping and submission of an annual
8 report to the Legislature; amending s.
9 288.1229, F.S.; providing an additional purpose
10 for which the Office of Tourism, Trade, and
11 Economic Development may authorize a
12 direct-support organization to assist the
13 office; providing for the creation of new jobs
14 in this state; authorizing certain school
15 districts to levy additional discretionary
16 millage; providing authority to the Department
17 of Agriculture and Consumer Services to
18 negotiate agreements with certain land owners
19 for water use in rural areas; creating s.
20 570.249, F.S.; creating the Agricultural
21 Economic Development Program Disaster Loans;
22 creating s. 570.911, F.S.; providing for an
23 equestrian educational sports program at 4-year
24 state universities; providing an effective
25 date.
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27 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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29 Section 1. Paragraph (f) of subsection (6) of section
30 212.20, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
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1 212.20 Funds collected, disposition; additional powers
2 of department; operational expense; refund of taxes
3 adjudicated unconstitutionally collected.--
4 (6) Distribution of all proceeds under this chapter
5 shall be as follows:
6 (f) The proceeds of all other taxes and fees imposed
7 pursuant to this chapter shall be distributed as follows:
8 1. In any fiscal year, the greater of $500 million,
9 minus an amount equal to 4.6 percent of the proceeds of the
10 taxes collected pursuant to chapter 201, or 5 percent of all
11 other taxes and fees imposed pursuant to this chapter shall be
12 deposited in monthly installments into the General Revenue
13 Fund.
14 2. Two-tenths of one percent shall be transferred to
15 the Solid Waste Management Trust Fund.
16 3. After the distribution under subparagraphs 1. and
17 2., 9.653 percent of the amount remitted by a sales tax dealer
18 located within a participating county pursuant to s. 218.61
19 shall be transferred into the Local Government Half-cent Sales
20 Tax Clearing Trust Fund.
21 4. After the distribution under subparagraphs 1., 2.,
22 and 3., 0.054 percent shall be transferred to the Local
23 Government Half-cent Sales Tax Clearing Trust Fund and
24 distributed pursuant to s. 218.65.
25 5. Of the remaining proceeds:
26 a. Beginning July 1, 1992, $166,667 shall be
27 distributed monthly by the department to each applicant that
28 has been certified as a "facility for a new professional
29 sports franchise" or a "facility for a retained professional
30 sports franchise" pursuant to s. 288.1162 and $41,667 shall be
31 distributed monthly by the department to each applicant that
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1 has been certified as a "new spring training franchise
2 facility" pursuant to s. 288.1162. Distributions shall begin
3 60 days following such certification and shall continue for 30
4 years. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to allow an
5 applicant certified pursuant to s. 288.1162 to receive more in
6 distributions than actually expended by the applicant for the
7 public purposes provided for in s. 288.1162(7). However, a
8 certified applicant shall receive distributions up to the
9 maximum amount allowable and undistributed under this section
10 for additional renovations and improvements to the facility
11 for the franchise without additional certification.
12 b. Beginning 30 days after notice by the Office of
13 Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development to the Department of
14 Revenue that an applicant has been certified as the
15 professional golf hall of fame pursuant to s. 288.1168 and is
16 open to the public, $166,667 shall be distributed monthly, for
17 up to 300 months, to the applicant.
18 c. Beginning 30 days after notice by the Office of
19 Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development Department of
20 Commerce to the Department of Revenue that the applicant has
21 been certified as the International Game Fish Association
22 World Center facility pursuant to s. 288.1169, and the
23 facility is open to the public, $83,333 shall be distributed
24 monthly, for up to 168 180 months, to the applicant. This
25 distribution is subject to reduction pursuant to s. 288.1169.
26 A lump sum payment of $999,996 shall be made, after
27 certification and before July 1, 2000.
28 d. Beginning 12 months after notice by the Office of
29 Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development that an applicant has
30 been certified as a certified sports industry economic
31 development project, a monthly sales tax reimbursement payment
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1 in the amount set forth in the notice by the Office of
2 Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development shall be distributed
3 to the applicant until the certification expires or notice is
4 received from the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic
5 Development of a change in the applicant's certification
6 status or in the certified monthly payment amount. The amount
7 of the monthly sales tax reimbursement distribution shall be
8 adjusted beginning 30 days after notice by the Office of
9 Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development that the applicant is
10 to receive a reduced or increased sales tax reimbursement
11 payment.
12 6. All other proceeds shall remain with the General
13 Revenue Fund.
14 Section 2. Paragraph (k) of subsection (7) of section
15 213.053, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
16 213.053 Confidentiality and information sharing.--
17 (7) Notwithstanding any other provision of this
18 section, the department may provide:
19 (k) Payment information relative to chapters 199, 201,
20 212, 220, and 221 to the Office of Tourism, Trade, and
21 Economic Development in its administration of the tax refund
22 program for qualified defense contractors authorized by s.
23 288.1045, and the tax refund program for qualified target
24 industry businesses authorized by s. 288.106, and the sales
25 tax reimbursement program for certified sports industry
26 economic development projects authorized by s. 288.113.
27 Section 3. Section 288.113, Florida Statutes, is
28 created to read:
29 288.113 Tax reimbursement program for certified sports
30 industry economic development projects.--
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1 (1) LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND DECLARATIONS.--The
2 Legislature finds that attracting, retaining, and providing
3 favorable conditions for the growth of certified sports
4 industry economic development projects provides high-quality
5 employment opportunities for residents of the state, increases
6 tourism, and enhances the economic foundations of the state.
7 It is the policy of the state to encourage the growth of
8 high-value-added employment to the economic base by providing
9 a sales tax reimbursement to certified sports industry
10 economic development projects that create new employment
11 opportunities and generate new sales tax dollars by expanding
12 businesses within the state or by bringing new businesses to
13 the state.
14 (2) DEFINITIONS.--As used in this section:
15 (a) "Certified sports industry economic development
16 project" or "project" means any amateur sports business that
17 develops, operates, or both develops and operates a project
18 that attracts and retains multiyear amateur sporting events
19 that generate new sales taxes for the state, has submitted a
20 properly completed application to the Office of Tourism,
21 Trade, and Economic Development, and has subsequently been
22 certified by that office as a certified sports industry
23 economic development project. The project may not be one that
24 is located in Florida prior to the effective date of this act.
25 (b) "Sales tax reimbursement" means the monthly amount
26 to be distributed through a reimbursement to a certified
27 sports industry economic development project pursuant to s.
28 212.20. Such amount shall be determined by the Office of
29 Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development as provided in this
30 section.
31 (3) AMATEUR SPORTS BUSINESS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY.--
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1 (a) Any amateur sports business that promotes
2 multiyear amateur sports industry economic development
3 activities in the state may submit to the Office of Tourism,
4 Trade, and Economic Development an application for approval as
5 a certified sports industry economic development project for
6 the purpose of receiving a sales tax reimbursement on new
7 sales taxes generated by increased new business and tourism
8 activity directly attributable to the proposed amateur sports
9 industry economic development project.
10 (b) The number of certified sports industry economic
11 development projects shall not exceed three. However, prior to
12 June 30, 2005, the number of certified sports industry
13 economic development projects shall not exceed one. However,
14 prior to June 30, 2005, the total appropriations for projects
15 shall not exceed $2 million.
16 (4) SALES TAX REIMBURSEMENT AND AUTHORIZED
17 AMOUNT.--Pursuant to s. 212.20, each certified sports industry
18 economic development project shall be eligible for a monthly
19 distribution of its sales tax reimbursement in the amount
20 determined by its sales tax reimbursement agreement with the
21 Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development. The
22 amount shall be based on new sales tax revenues generated
23 under chapter 212 by increased new business and tourism
24 activity directly attributable to the project as determined
25 using the sports economic impact model and, subject to other
26 restrictions, returns 50 percent of that amount to the
27 project. The total amount of sales tax reimbursement for all
28 fiscal years estimated for each project shall not exceed 50
29 percent of the cost of the project as determined by the Office
30 of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development in the
31 certification process set forth in subsection (6). The
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1 annualized amount of the monthly distribution shall be
2 calculated by the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic
3 Development and specified in the applicant's sales tax
4 reimbursement agreement. Annual payment amounts shall be no
5 less than $500,000 and no more than $2 million, unless the
6 Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development reduces
7 payments below $500,000 under its authority to decertify a
8 project as discussed in subsection (6).
9 (5) AUTHORIZED USE OF SALES TAX REIMBURSEMENT
10 PAYMENTS.--After entering into a sales tax reimbursement
11 agreement under subsection (7), a certified sports industry
12 economic development project may receive a sales tax
13 reimbursement for any of the following:
14 (a) Developing and implementing any component of the
15 project's sports events and activities.
16 (b) Constructing, reconstructing, renovating,
17 furnishing, equipping, or operating the project's facilities
18 or events.
19 (c) Pledging payments or debt service on, or funding,
20 debt service reserve funds, arbitrage rebate obligations, or
21 other amounts payable with respect to bonds for the project's
22 activities and facilities.
23 (d) Paying the cost of relocating the project's
24 corporate headquarters into the state.
25 (6) CERTIFICATION, RECERTIFICATION, AND
26 DECERTIFICATION PROCEDURE.--
27 (a) The Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic
28 Development shall establish a certification process by which a
29 proposed amateur sports industry economic development project
30 may be approved by the office as a certified sports industry
31 economic development project that is eligible to receive
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1 economic development incentives in the form of a sales tax
2 reimbursement of a percentage of new sales taxes that have
3 been generated and remitted to the state as a result of the
4 certified sports industry economic development project.
5 (b) Before certifying an applicant under this
6 subsection, the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic
7 Development must determine that the applicant has:
8 1. Completed an independent analysis or study,
9 verified by the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic
10 Development, which demonstrates that the proposed amateur
11 sports industry economic development project will generate a
12 minimum of $1 million annually in new sales tax revenues over
13 a multiyear period.
14 2. Received commitments for amateur sports activities
15 which demonstrate that the proposed amateur sports economic
16 development project will bring to this state on a multiyear
17 basis new proposed amateur sports economic development project
18 activities that will generate a minimum of $1 million in new
19 sales tax revenues annually, as verified by the Office of
20 Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development.
21 3. Demonstrated that the applicant has provided, is
22 capable of providing, or has financial or other commitments to
23 provide more than one-half of the costs incurred in or related
24 to the development of the proposed amateur sports industry
25 economic development project activity.
26 (c) An amateur sports business that has previously
27 been certified under this section and has received a sales tax
28 reimbursement under that certification is ineligible for
29 additional certification.
30 (d) Upon determining that a proposed amateur sports
31 industry economic development project meets the established
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1 criteria for approval as a certified sports industry economic
2 development project and qualifies for a sales tax
3 reimbursement, the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic
4 Development shall issue to the applicant a letter of
5 certification that stipulates the terms of the sales tax
6 reimbursement agreement and the penalties for failing to
7 comply with those terms.
8 (e) The Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic
9 Development shall deny the application of an amateur sports
10 business to be a certified sports industry economic
11 development project if the office determines that the proposed
12 project does not meet the established criteria for approval.
13 (f) The Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic
14 Development shall develop a standardized form for an amateur
15 sports business to complete in applying for certification as a
16 certified sports industry economic development project. The
17 application shall include, but is not limited to, relevant
18 information on employment and job creation, proposed budgets,
19 contracts for multiyear events and projects, project
20 financing, and other information requested by the office. The
21 application may be distributed to applicants by the Office of
22 Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development, and all completed
23 applications shall be processed by the office.
24 (g) Initial certification for a sales tax
25 reimbursement under this section is valid for 10 years.
26 Subsequent to the initial certification period, the certified
27 sports industry economic development project is eligible for
28 two periods of recertification, each of which is valid for 5
29 years. A project must request recertification 12 months before
30 the expiration of the certificate.
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1 (h) A certified sports industry economic development
2 project may request recertification after the initial
3 certification period to be requalified for certification as a
4 certified sports industry economic development project for a
5 period not to exceed 20 years.
6 (i) The Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic
7 Development shall recertify, before the end of the first
8 10-year period, that the certified sports industry economic
9 development project is operational and that the project is
10 meeting the minimum projections for sales tax revenues as
11 required at the time of original certification. If the project
12 is not recertified during this 10-year review period as
13 meeting the minimum projections, funding shall be adjusted
14 until certification criteria are met. If the project fails to
15 generate annual sales tax revenues pursuant to its sales tax
16 reimbursement agreement with the Office of Tourism, Trade, and
17 Economic Development, the amount of revenues distributed to
18 the project under s. 212.20(6)(f)5.d. shall be reduced to an
19 amount equal to a pro-rata amount of the taxes collected times
20 50 percent. If, for 2 consecutive years, the amount of tax
21 revenues collected falls below a minimum of $1 million per
22 year, the project may be decertified at the discretion of the
23 Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development. Such a
24 reduction shall remain in effect until the sales tax revenues
25 generated by the project in a 12-month period equal or exceed
26 $1 million.
27 (j) A project may be decertified if the Office of
28 Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development determines that the
29 amateur sports business can no longer maintain its economic
30 development activities in this state. If the project is no
31 longer in existence, or is no longer viable, as determined by
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1 the project's sales tax reimbursement agreement with the
2 Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development, or if the
3 project has the certificate for purposes other than those
4 authorized by this section and chapter 212, the Office of
5 Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development shall notify the
6 Department of Revenue to suspend payment for a period of 6
7 months until the project is either in compliance with the
8 sales tax reimbursement agreement or is determined to be in
9 default. In addition to other penalties imposed by law, any
10 person who knowingly and willfully falsifies an application
11 for purposes other than those authorized by this section
12 commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided
13 in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
14 (k) The Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic
15 Development shall provide written notification to the
16 Department of Revenue of all certifications, recertifications,
17 and decertifications of projects and of the sales tax
18 reimbursement distribution amount each project is entitled to
19 receive.
20 (l) The Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic
21 Development shall develop rules for the receipt and processing
22 of applications for funding pursuant to s. 212.20.
23 (7) SALES TAX REIMBURSEMENT AGREEMENT TERMS.--
24 (a) In order to qualify for sales tax reimbursement
25 from the state, each certified sports industry economic
26 development project must enter into a written agreement with
27 the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development which
28 specifies, at a minimum:
29 1. The total number of full-time-equivalent jobs
30 created in or transferred to the state as a direct result of
31 the project, the average wage paid for those jobs, the
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1 criteria that will apply to measuring the achievement of these
2 terms during the effective period of the agreement, and a time
3 schedule or plan for when such jobs will be in place and
4 operative in the state.
5 2. The maximum amount of new sales taxes estimated to
6 be generated as a result of the project, the maximum amount of
7 sales tax reimbursement that the project is eligible to
8 receive, and the maximum amount of sales tax reimbursement
9 that the project is requesting.
10 3. The budgets, financing, projections, and cost
11 estimates for the sports activities and projects for which
12 reimbursement is sought.
13 (b) Compliance with the terms and conditions of the
14 sales tax reimbursement agreement is a condition precedent for
15 receiving a sales tax reimbursement each year. The terms and
16 time frame of the agreement shall be commensurate with the
17 duration of the certification period. Failure to comply with
18 the terms and conditions of the sales tax reimbursement
19 agreement shall result in an immediate review by the Office of
20 Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development of the activities of
21 the project.
22 (c) The sales tax reimbursement shall not exceed 50
23 percent of the total project costs, amortized over a period of
24 years not to exceed 20.
25 (d) Sales tax reimbursement may be provided through
26 direct payment or other means of payment to the certified
27 sports industry economic development project, as determined in
28 the sales tax reimbursement agreement with the approval of the
29 Department of Revenue.
30 (8) ADMINISTRATION.--
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1 (a) The Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic
2 Development may verify information provided in any claim for
3 sales tax reimbursement under this section, including
4 information regarding employment and wage levels or the
5 payment of taxes under chapter 212 to the appropriate agency,
6 including the Department of Revenue, the Department of Labor
7 and Employment Security, or the appropriate local government
8 or authority.
9 (b) To facilitate the process of monitoring and
10 auditing applications made under this program, the Office of
11 Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development may request
12 information necessary for determining a project's compliance
13 with this section from the Department of Revenue, the
14 Department of Labor and Employment Security, or any local
15 government or authority. These governmental entities shall
16 provide assistance in the areas within their scope of
17 responsibilities.
18 (c) The Department of Revenue may audit as provided in
19 s. 213.34 to verify that the distributions pursuant to this
20 section have been expended as required in this section.
21 (9) RELATIONSHIP OF SALES TAX REIMBURSEMENTS TO SPORTS
22 INDUSTRY GROWTH; REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE.--Beginning January
23 1, 2001, the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic
24 Development shall maintain records based on information
25 provided on taxpayer applications for certified sports
26 industry economic development projects that receive sales tax
27 reimbursements. These records must include a statement of the
28 percentage of the overall new economic impact generated by
29 certified sports industry economic development projects and
30 the amount of funds annually reimbursed to such projects. In
31 addition, the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic
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1 Development shall maintain data showing the annual growth in
2 Florida-based amateur sports industry businesses and the
3 number of persons employed and wages paid by such businesses.
4 The Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development shall
5 report this information to the Legislature annually, no later
6 than December 1.
7 Section 4. Subsection (1) of section 288.1229, Florida
8 Statutes, is amended to read:
9 288.1229 Promotion and development of sports-related
10 industries and amateur athletics; direct-support organization;
11 powers and duties.--
12 (1) The Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic
13 Development may authorize a direct-support organization to
14 assist the office in:
15 (a) The promotion and development of the sports
16 industry and related industries for the purpose of improving
17 the economic presence of these industries in Florida.
18 (b) The promotion of amateur athletic participation
19 for the citizens of Florida and the promotion of Florida as a
20 host for national and international amateur athletic
21 competitions for the purpose of encouraging and increasing the
22 direct and ancillary economic benefits of amateur athletic
23 events and competitions.
24 (c) The attraction of sports industry economic
25 development projects to this state for the purposes set forth
26 in paragraphs (a) and (b), as well as for the purposes of
27 increasing national and international media promotions and
28 attention, promoting the quality of life in the state, and
29 promoting tourism, which will have a positive effect on
30 expanding the tax base as well as creating new jobs in the
31 state.
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1 Section 5. Notwithstanding the General Appropriations
2 Act for 2000-2001, any school district that has submitted a
3 proposal to be a charter school district under section
4 228.058, Florida Statutes, prior to March 1, 2000, may levy up
5 to 1.0 of additional discretionary school millage, for 1 year
6 only, to provide funds necessary to implement the transition
7 to charter district status.
8 Section 6. The Department of Agriculture and Consumer
9 Services is authorized to negotiate agreements with landowners
10 for water supply in rural areas, provided that:
11 (1) The water to be supplied is currently available to
12 property owned or controlled by the department; and
13 (2) The intended use and quantity are not inconsistent
14 with any permit required under part II of chapter 373, Florida
15 Statutes, for the source of supply in effect at the time of
16 the agreement.
17 Section 7. Section 570.249, Florida Statutes, is
18 created to read:
19 570.249 Agricultural Economic Development Program
20 Disaster Loans.--
21 (1) USE OF LOAN FUNDS.--Loan funds to agricultural
22 producers who have experienced crop losses from a natural
23 disaster or a socio-economic condition or event may be used to
24 restore or replace essential physical property, such as
25 animals, fences, equipment, structural production facilities,
26 or orchard trees; pay all or part of production costs
27 associated with the disaster year; pay essential family living
28 expenses; and restructure farm debts. Funds may be issued as
29 direct loans, or as loan guarantees for up to 90 percent of
30 the total loan, in amounts not less than $30,000 nor more than
31 $250,000. Applicants must provide at least 10 percent equity.
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1 (2) ELIGIBLE CROPS.--Crops eligible for the emergency
2 loan program include:
3 (a) Crops grown for human consumption;
4 (b) Crops planted and grown for livestock consumption,
5 including, but not limited to, grain, seed, and forage crops;
6 (c) Crops grown for fiber, except for trees; and
7 (d) Speciality crops, such as aquacultural,
8 floricultural, or ornamental nursery crops; Christmas trees;
9 turf for sod; industrial crops; and seed crops used to produce
10 eligible crops.
11 (3) FARMING INFORMATION.--A borrower must keep
12 complete and acceptable farm records and present them as proof
13 of production levels. A borrower must operate in accordance
14 with a farm plan that he or she develops and that is approved
15 by the commissioner. A borrower may be required to participate
16 in a financial management training program and obtain crop
17 insurance.
18 (4) LOAN APPLICATION.--In order to qualify for a loan
19 under this section an applicant must submit an application to
20 the committee within 30 days after the natural disaster or
21 socio-economic condition or event occurs or the date the crop
22 damage becomes apparent. An applicant must be a citizen of the
23 United States, a bona fide resident of the state, and,
24 together with the applicant's spouse and their dependents,
25 have a total net worth of less than the $100,000. The value of
26 any residental homestead owned by the applicant must not be
27 included in determining the applicant's net worth. An
28 applicant must also demonstrate the need for economic
29 assistance, be worthy of credit according to standards
30 established by the commissioner, prove that he or she cannot
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1 obtain commercial credit, and demonstrate that he or she has
2 the ability to repay the loan.
3 (5) LOAN SECURITY REQUIREMENTS.--All loans must be
4 fully collateralized. A first lien is required on all property
5 or product acquired, produced, or refinanced with loan funds.
6 The specific type of collateral required may vary depending
7 upon the loan purpose, repayment ability, and the particular
8 circumstances of the applicant.
9 (6) LOAN REPAYMENT.--Repayment of loans for crops,
10 livestock, and non-real-estate losses shall normally be repaid
11 within 7 years, or, in special circumstances within 20 years.
12 Loans for physical losses to real estate and buildings shall
13 not exceed 30 years. Borrowers are expected to return to
14 conventional credit sources when they are financially able.
15 Loans are a temporary source of credit and borrowers must be
16 reviewed periodically to determine whether they can return to
17 conventional credit.
18 Section 8. Section 570.911, Florida Statutes, is
19 created to read:
20 570.911 Equestrian educational sports program.--The
21 Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services shall
22 establish an equestrian educational sports program with one or
23 more accredited 4-year state universities designed to give
24 student riders the opportunity to learn, compete, and succeed
25 at the collegiate level, while at the same time promoting the
26 state's multi-billion dollar equine industry.
27 Section 9. This act shall take effect July 1, 2000.
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