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



                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

    402-138X-27                                 Bill No. CS/HB 789

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)

                            CHAMBER ACTION
              Senate                               House
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  4  ______________________________________________________________

  5                                           ORIGINAL STAMP BELOW

  6

  7

  8

  9

10  ______________________________________________________________

11  Representative(s) Romeo offered the following:

12

13         Amendment (with title amendment) 

14  Remove everything after the enacting clause

15

16  and insert:

17         Section 1.  Florida Rural Heritage and Economic

18  Stimulus Act.--

19         (1)  SHORT TITLE.--This section may be cited as the

20  "Florida Rural Heritage and Economic Stimulus Act."

21         (2)  FINDINGS.--The Legislature finds that:

22         (a)  Fiscally and culturally strong rural communities

23  are beneficial to regional and state economies and resources,

24  are a method for reduction of future urban sprawl, encourage

25  compact, efficient urban growth patterns, and should be

26  promoted by state, regional, and local governments.

27         (b)  The health and vibrancy of the state's rural areas

28  benefit their respective regions and the state; conversely,

29  the deterioration of those rural areas negatively impacts the

30  surrounding areas and the state.

31         (c)  In recognition of the interwoven nature of the

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

    402-138X-27                                 Bill No. CS/HB 789

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  relationships among rural communities, agricultural lands,

  2  open space lands, urban centers, regions, and the state, the

  3  respective governments should establish a framework and work

  4  in partnership with communities and the private sector to

  5  revitalize rural areas.

  6         (d)  A state rural policy should guide the state,

  7  regional agencies, local governments, and the private sector

  8  in creating economic prosperity and preserving the unique

  9  character and heritage of the state's rural areas. The policy

10  should encourage and assist local governments in addressing

11  issues including adequate provision of infrastructure,

12  affordable housing, human services, safe neighborhoods,

13  agricultural profitability, educational facilities, sound land

14  uses, health care, and economic diversification and

15  development to sustain rural communities into the future.

16         (e)  Successfully revitalizing and sustaining rural

17  areas depends on addressing, through an integrated and

18  coordinated community effort, a range of varied components

19  essential to a healthy rural environment, including cultural,

20  educational, recreational, economic, transportation, land use,

21  information technology, and social service delivery

22  components.

23         (f)  Identification of rural activity centers and of

24  strategies to promote economic prosperity while protecting

25  rural character are recognized as important components and

26  useful mechanisms to promote and sustain rural areas. State

27  and regional entities and local governments should provide

28  incentives to promote community-based processes to identify

29  such centers and strategies. Existing programs and incentives

30  should be integrated to the extent possible to promote sound

31  rural development and to achieve the goals of the state rural

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

    402-138X-27                                 Bill No. CS/HB 789

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  policy.

  2         (g)  Full funding for rural transportation and water

  3  infrastructure needs, rural schools, health care services, and

  4  information technology is an important investment by the state

  5  in the overall health of its rural communities and is an

  6  integral component of a state rural policy.

  7         (h)  Many rural local governments are hindered by

  8  limited staff and capacity in their efforts to secure

  9  available resources. A state rural policy should assist local

10  governments in identifying and accessing needed resources for

11  which they are eligible and should promote creative ways to

12  maximize the efficiency of rural local governments' existing

13  staff and other resources.

14         (i)  Agriculture plays an integral role in the economy,

15  ecology, and culture of the state's rural areas and of the

16  state as a whole. At the same time, the state is losing

17  agricultural lands to development at a rapid rate. A state

18  rural policy should assist state agencies and local

19  governments in creating and marketing tools for increasing the

20  profitability of agricultural land uses and other incentives

21  for conserving the state's agricultural lands.

22         (j)  In recognition that approximately one-half of all

23  visitors to this state include a nature-based experience in

24  their vacations, a state rural policy should encourage the

25  development of a nature-based tourism and heritage tourism

26  industry that meets this growing public demand, protects the

27  state's natural and cultural resources, and contributes to

28  economic prosperity, especially in the state's rural

29  communities.

30         (3)  DEFINITIONS.--As used in this section, the term:

31         (a)  "Local government" means any county or

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

    402-138X-27                                 Bill No. CS/HB 789

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  municipality.

  2         (b)  "Rural Activity Center" means an area or areas:

  3         1.  Designated by a local government or by local

  4  governments through interlocal agreement.

  5         2.  Located within a Rural Heritage Area.

  6         3.  In which public services, including water services,

  7  transportation infrastructure, schools, and recreation, are

  8  already available or are scheduled to be provided in an

  9  adopted 5-year schedule of capital improvements, and which

10  have historically served as commercial business centers or

11  sites of public buildings for surrounding rural residents.

12

13  The Rural Activity Center may consist of or include state

14  community redevelopment areas, brownfields, enterprise zones,

15  or Mainstreet programs, federal Empowerment Zones, Enterprise

16  Communities, Champion Communities, or Brownfield Showcase

17  Communities. The Rural Activity Center shall serve and be

18  developed as a "town center," promoting compact, efficient

19  development within the area and allowing lower-density

20  development that retains rural character within the remaining

21  portions of the designated Rural Heritage Area.

22         (c)  "Rural Heritage Area" means an area or areas:

23         1.  Designated by a local government or by local

24  governments through interlocal agreement.

25         2.  Within which more than 50 percent of the land is in

26  agricultural, open space, recreational, or other nondeveloped

27  use.

28         3.  That fit the definition of, or fall within an area

29  that fits the definition of, a rural county, rural

30  municipality, or rural community as defined in s. 288.106,

31  Florida Statutes.

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

    402-138X-27                                 Bill No. CS/HB 789

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1

  2  A Rural Heritage Area may comprise a single rural county as

  3  defined in s. 288.106, Florida Statutes, a multicounty area,

  4  or a subcounty area that is rural in nature and meets the

  5  land-use, demographic, economic, and definitional criteria set

  6  forth in this paragraph. If a subcounty area, a Rural Heritage

  7  Area may comprise one or more rural municipalities, as defined

  8  in s. 288.106, Florida Statutes, and may include

  9  unincorporated areas between or surrounding the rural

10  municipalities, provided that all parts of the designated area

11  meet the criteria set forth in this paragraph.

12         (4)  DESIGNATION OF A RURAL HERITAGE AREA.--

13         (a)  A local government, or local governments through

14  interlocal agreement, may designate a geographic area or areas

15  within the applicable jurisdiction as a Rural Heritage Area

16  for the purpose of convening a community-based holistic

17  planning process to identify community problems and assets,

18  create a vision for the area's future, and formulate a

19  strategic plan for implementing asset-based solutions to the

20  problems identified.

21         (b)  A local government, or local governments through

22  interlocal agreement, may designate a geographic area or areas

23  within the applicable jurisdiction and within a designated

24  Rural Heritage Area as a Rural Activity Center for the purpose

25  of targeting economic development, job creation, housing,

26  transportation and other infrastructure, neighborhood

27  revitalization and preservation, the promotion of rural land

28  preservation, and the employment of land-use incentives to

29  encourage mixed-use development that will revitalize the Rural

30  Activity Center area as a functioning downtown that can serve

31  residents of surrounding rural areas.

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

    402-138X-27                                 Bill No. CS/HB 789

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1         (c)  Designation of a Rural Heritage Area or Rural

  2  Activity Center does not exempt the local government from the

  3  process required under chapter 163, Florida Statutes, for

  4  amending the comprehensive plan within the designated area.

  5         (5)  COMMUNITY-BASED PLANNING PROCESS.--

  6         (a)  As part of the designation of the Rural Heritage

  7  Area and the preparation of a Rural Heritage Area plan, a

  8  community-based planning process must be implemented in each

  9  proposed Rural Heritage Area. The process must involve

10  stakeholders including, but not limited to, community-based

11  organizations; neighborhood associations; educational, health

12  care, and religious organizations; area residents, including

13  low-income residents; appropriate local government

14  representatives; local school boards; and, when appropriate,

15  institutions of higher education.

16         (b)  The objective of the community-based planning

17  process is to produce an integrated plan that benefits the

18  community as a whole and to encourage residents within the

19  designated area to participate in the design and

20  implementation of the Rural Heritage Area plan, including the

21  visioning of the area's future, before prioritizing and

22  optimizing scarce resources. The planning process must be

23  collaborative and holistic and must address, at a minimum,

24  economic development including the nature-based tourism and

25  heritage tourism industry, land use, affordable housing,

26  infrastructure, education, health care, public safety, public

27  and private financial capacity, information technology,

28  workforce development, ecological conservation, social equity,

29  the role of agriculture in the local economy if applicable,

30  and the role of local government.

31         (c)  In lieu of preparing a new plan, the local

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

    402-138X-27                                 Bill No. CS/HB 789

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  government may demonstrate that an existing plan or

  2  combination of plans includes the factors listed in paragraph

  3  (d), or amend such existing plans to include the factors

  4  listed in paragraph (d), including the community-based

  5  planning process. If the area constitutes or contains a

  6  federally designated Empowerment Zone, Enterprise Community,

  7  or Champion Community, the plan and planning process done in

  8  application for that designation shall serve to meet the

  9  requirements of the community-based planning process and shall

10  allow the community to apply for implementation grants under

11  the Rural Heritage Grant program that are based on such plan.

12         (d)  A local government seeking to designate a

13  geographic area as a Rural Heritage Area shall propose a plan

14  that describes means of promoting economic prosperity and

15  preserving the unique rural character of the area. The plan

16  must demonstrate the local government's and community's

17  commitment to comprehensively addressing the problems within

18  the Rural Heritage Area and identify activities, programs, and

19  resources that can help accomplish locally identified goals

20  such as improved educational opportunities; economic

21  diversification and development; the future of agricultural

22  land uses in the planning area; provision of infrastructure

23  needs, including information technology infrastructure;

24  prioritizing, pooling, and leveraging scarce resources; and

25  mixed-use planning for Rural Activity Centers to improve both

26  the residential and commercial quality of life in the area.

27  The plan must also:

28         1.  Contain a map depicting the Rural Heritage Area or

29  areas, and Rural Activity Center if applicable, to be included

30  within the designation.

31         2.  Contain interlocal agreements, as appropriate,

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

    402-138X-27                                 Bill No. CS/HB 789

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  among participating local governments and any regional or

  2  nonprofit organizations which express the entities' commitment

  3  to collectively designating the area and to coordinated

  4  implementation efforts based on the plan.

  5         3.  Identify any existing enterprise zones, community

  6  redevelopment areas, community development districts,

  7  brownfield areas, downtown redevelopment districts, safe

  8  neighborhood improvement districts, historic preservation

  9  districts, and empowerment zones located within the area

10  proposed for designation.

11         4.  Identify a memorandum of understanding between the

12  district school board and the local government jurisdiction

13  regarding public school facilities located within the Rural

14  Heritage Area to identify how the school board will enhance

15  public school facilities and programs in the designated area.

16         5.  Explain how projects identified in the plan advance

17  the goals of creating economic prosperity for area residents

18  and of preserving the rural character and heritage of the

19  planning area. Projects may include land acquisition;

20  demolition, construction, or renovation of structures;

21  purchase of conservation easements or development rights on

22  agricultural, conservation, or recreational lands;

23  job-training programs; investments in educational

24  technologies; capacity building through existing or new

25  nonprofit organizations; creation, enhancement, or marketing

26  of nature-based, agricultural, or heritage tourism or

27  recreational facilities; or improvement of the delivery of

28  health care services to rural residents.

29         6.  Identify the geographic locations for projects

30  identified through the community-based planning process and

31  explain how such projects will be implemented.

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

    402-138X-27                                 Bill No. CS/HB 789

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1         7.  Identify how the local government intends to

  2  implement and enhance affordable housing programs as defined

  3  in s. 420.602, Florida Statutes, including economic and

  4  community development programs administered by the Department

  5  of Community Affairs and the Florida Housing Finance

  6  Corporation within the Rural Heritage Area.

  7         8.  If applicable, provide guidelines for the adoption

  8  of land development regulations specific to the Rural Heritage

  9  Area which provide for the use or purchase of conservation

10  easements, purchase or transfer of development rights, or the

11  use of other means available to local governments under s.

12  704.06, Florida Statutes, for the purpose of preserving

13  agricultural lands.

14         9.  If applicable, identify and adopt a package of

15  financial and local government incentives which the local

16  government will offer for new development, expansion or

17  renovation of existing development, and redevelopment within

18  any designated Rural Activity Center. Examples of such

19  incentives include:

20         a.  Waiver of license and permit fees.

21         b.  Waiver of delinquent taxes or fees to promote the

22  return of property to productive use.

23         c.  Expedited permitting.

24         d.  Prioritization of infrastructure spending within

25  the Rural Heritage Area and Rural Activity Center.

26         10.  Identify how activities and incentives within the

27  Rural Heritage Area or Rural Activity Center will be

28  coordinated and what administrative mechanism the local

29  government will use for the coordination and monitoring of

30  Rural Heritage Area plan implementation.

31         11.  Provide a list of stakeholders participating in

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

    402-138X-27                                 Bill No. CS/HB 789

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  the community-based planning process, pursuant to paragraph

  2  (a).

  3         12.  Identify goals, objectives, performance measures,

  4  and baseline data on conditions for evaluating the success of

  5  the local government, community-based organizations, and other

  6  stakeholders in implementing the Rural Heritage Area plan and

  7  in improving economic prosperity and preserving rural

  8  character.

  9         (e)  The regional planning council covering the

10  geographic location of the Rural Heritage Area, or other

11  appropriate nonprofit, university-based, or for-profit

12  organizations, may assist the local government in convening

13  the community-based planning process and in preparing the

14  Rural Heritage Area plan, provided that the process and

15  resulting plan meet all other requirements as described in

16  this section.

17         (f)  After the preparation of a Rural Heritage Area

18  plan or the designation of an existing plan, the local

19  government must adopt the plan by ordinance. Notice for the

20  public hearing on the ordinance must be in the form

21  established in s. 166.041(3)(c)2., Florida Statutes, for

22  municipalities and s. 125.66(4)(b)2., Florida Statutes, for

23  counties.

24         (g)  For a local government to designate a Rural

25  Heritage Area or Rural Activity Center, it must amend its

26  comprehensive land-use plan under s. 163.3187, Florida

27  Statutes, to delineate the Rural Heritage Area within the

28  future land-use element of its comprehensive plan. An

29  amendment to the local comprehensive plan to designate a Rural

30  Heritage Area or Rural Activity Center is exempt from the

31  twice-a-year amendment limitation of s. 163.3187, Florida

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

    402-138X-27                                 Bill No. CS/HB 789

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  Statutes.

  2         (6)  ECONOMIC INCENTIVES; REPORTS; TECHNICAL

  3  ASSISTANCE.--

  4         (a)  A local government with an adopted Rural Heritage

  5  Area plan or a plan employed in lieu thereof may issue revenue

  6  bonds under s. 163.385, Florida Statutes, and employ tax

  7  increment financing under s. 163.387, Florida Statutes, for

  8  the purpose of financing the implementation of the plan as

  9  appropriate, particularly within designated Rural Activity

10  Centers.

11         (b)  A local government with an adopted Rural Heritage

12  Area plan or a plan employed in lieu thereof may exercise the

13  powers granted under s. 163.514, Florida Statutes, for

14  community redevelopment neighborhood improvement districts,

15  including the authority to levy special assessments as

16  appropriate, particularly within designated Rural Activity

17  Centers.

18         (c)  State agencies that provide funding for

19  infrastructure, cost reimbursement, grants, or loans to local

20  governments, including the Department of Environmental

21  Protection (Clean Water State Revolving Fund, Drinking Water

22  Revolving Loan Trust Fund, and the State of Florida Pollution

23  Control Bond Program), the Department of Community Affairs

24  (Economic Development and Housing Program and Florida

25  Communities Trust), the Florida Housing Finance Corporation,

26  and the Department of Transportation, shall report to the

27  President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of

28  Representatives by January 1, 2003, regarding statutory and

29  rule changes necessary to give Rural Heritage Areas identified

30  by local governments that have completed the community-based

31  planning process an elevated priority in infrastructure

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

    402-138X-27                                 Bill No. CS/HB 789

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  funding, loan, and grant programs.

  2         (d)  State agencies that provide funding to local

  3  governments shall identify grant programs for which local

  4  government cash match requirements will be waived or replaced

  5  by in-kind match, which can include the creation of a

  6  permanent resource development staff position within the local

  7  government to work on accessing a variety of grants, and loan

  8  programs for which repayment will be forgiven, for rural local

  9  government applicants that have successfully completed the

10  Rural Heritage Area grant program community-based planning

11  process. Agencies shall report to the President of the Senate

12  and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by September

13  1, 2002, on programs identified, statutory or rule changes

14  needed, and cost of implementation.

15         (e)  The Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI),

16  as described in s. 288.0656, Florida Statutes, shall work with

17  state agencies and other organizations that provide loans,

18  grants, or technical assistance of any kind to the state's

19  rural communities to update, maintain, and distribute

20  semiannually to every rural county and city government as

21  defined in s. 288.106, Florida Statutes, the Rural Resource

22  Directory, which describes resources, including federal

23  resources, that are available to rural local governments and

24  how to access them. The publication must include statutory

25  provisions that enable local governments to raise or direct

26  revenues toward the goals of promoting economic prosperity

27  while preserving rural character. To the extent possible, REDI

28  shall provide, or shall work through the regional planning

29  councils, the Small County Technical Assistance Program, the

30  Local Government Financial Technical Assistance Program, the

31  State University System, or other relevant organizations to

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

    402-138X-27                                 Bill No. CS/HB 789

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  provide, technical assistance to all rural local governments

  2  to access these resources.

  3         (f)  Provision by REDI or other organizations

  4  identified in paragraph (e) of technical assistance in

  5  accessing available resources as described in paragraph (e) is

  6  an automatic result of successful completion of the Rural

  7  Heritage Area community-based planning process.

  8         (g)  REDI shall work with the Florida State Rural

  9  Development Council and state agencies to develop a simple,

10  uniform grant application form for use by local government

11  grant applicants. To the extent feasible, such a uniform

12  application process should incorporate the sharing of known

13  information about local governments among state government

14  agencies in order to maximize the efficiency of local

15  governments' efforts to secure available resources. The

16  uniform grant application must be adopted for use by state

17  agencies by July 1, 2003.

18         (7)  GRANT PROGRAM.--

19         (a)  A Rural Heritage Grant Program is created to

20  assist local governments in adopting Rural Heritage Areas,

21  completing the community-based planning process, and

22  implementing elements of the resulting Rural Heritage Area

23  plan.

24         (b)  Forty-five percent of the general revenue

25  appropriated for the Rural Heritage Grant Program must be

26  available for conducting the community-based planning process

27  and completing the Rural Heritage Area plans. Forty-nine

28  percent of the general revenue appropriated for the Rural

29  Heritage Grant Program must be available for implementing

30  projects that are identified in the local government's adopted

31  Rural Heritage Area plan or a plan employed in lieu thereof. A

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

    402-138X-27                                 Bill No. CS/HB 789

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  local government may allocate grant money to special

  2  districts, including community redevelopment agencies and

  3  nonprofit community development organizations, to implement

  4  projects consistent with an adopted Rural Heritage Area plan

  5  or a plan employed in lieu thereof. Five percent of the

  6  revenue must be made available for "seed money" grants of not

  7  more than $10,000 to assist local governments to begin the

  8  process of identifying Rural Heritage Areas, assembling a core

  9  group of community-based planning participants, and applying

10  for planning grants. The remaining 1 percent must be made

11  available for administrative costs incurred by the Department

12  of Community Affairs for implementing the Rural Heritage Grant

13  Program and the Urban Infill and Redevelopment Assistance

14  Grant Program. Projects that provide employment opportunities

15  to clients of the WAGES program must be given an elevated

16  priority in the scoring of competing grant applications. To

17  encourage rural-urban partnerships and regional planning,

18  grant applications may be made, and grant moneys may be used,

19  in regional or partnership projects with communities eligible

20  to participate in the Urban Infill and Redevelopment

21  Assistance Grant Program. The Division of Housing and

22  Community Development of the Department of Community Affairs

23  shall administer the grant program.

24         (c)  Priority for funding under the Rural Heritage

25  Grant Program shall be given to Rural Heritage Areas in which

26  a majority of the populated portions of the area are

27  characterized by pervasive poverty, unemployment, and general

28  distress, as defined in s. 290.0058, Florida Statutes.

29         (d)  The Department of Community Affairs, in

30  consultation with REDI, shall adopt rules establishing grant

31  review criteria consistent with this section. Actions required

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

    402-138X-27                                 Bill No. CS/HB 789

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  by this paragraph are contingent upon funds being provided to

  2  implement the Rural Heritage Grant Program.

  3         (e)  If the local government fails to implement

  4  sections of the Rural Heritage Area plan funded through a

  5  Rural Heritage Area implementation grant pursuant to the

  6  deadlines specified in the grant agreement, the Department of

  7  Community Affairs, in consultation with REDI, may seek to

  8  rescind the economic and regulatory incentives granted to a

  9  Rural Heritage Area or Rural Activity Center, subject to the

10  provisions of chapter 120, Florida Statutes. The action to

11  rescind may be initiated 90 days after issuing a written

12  letter of warning to the local government.

13         (8)  MICRO-LOAN PROGRAM FOR NATURE-BASED TOURISM AND

14  HERITAGE TOURISM BUSINESSES.--The statewide advisory committee

15  on nature-based tourism and heritage tourism, as established

16  in s. 288.1224, Florida Statutes, shall work with Enterprise

17  Florida, Inc., the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic

18  Development, VISIT FLORIDA, the Rural Economic Development

19  Initiative, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation

20  Commission, the Division of Recreation and Parks of the

21  Department of Environmental Protection, and other appropriate

22  entities to develop a statewide micro-loan program for the

23  purpose of financing the creation and enhancement of small

24  businesses providing nature-based tourism or heritage tourism

25  experiences. Examples include eco-tour operators and guides

26  and bicycle rentals, canoe outfitters, and bed-and-breakfast

27  facilities in proximity to natural areas. No later than

28  November 1, 2002, this group shall submit a report to the

29  President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of

30  Representatives that provides the mission and structure of the

31  micro-loan program, guidelines for administering the program,

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

    402-138X-27                                 Bill No. CS/HB 789

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  and criteria for and any limitations on loan recipient

  2  eligibility and use of loan funds.

  3         (9)  WIRELESS COMMUNITY-BASED NETWORK PILOT PROGRAM.--

  4         (a)  The Department of Health, in consultation with the

  5  State Technology Office, Department of Education, Department

  6  of Community Affairs, rural health networks, local

  7  governments, the Area Health Education Centers, and medical

  8  schools shall develop recommendations regarding the

  9  establishment of two pilot projects in rural communities that

10  use wireless or other technologies. The purposes of the

11  projects are to illustrate ways to increase access to quality

12  health care, health education, and other health resources in

13  the state's rural areas; to leverage federal funds available

14  for bridging the "digital divide"; to build on existing

15  applications to create community-based health networks; and to

16  foster opportunities for innovative distribution of existing

17  funds. The pilot projects must include linkages to existing

18  information technology systems in the pilot area, for example,

19  to a public health care facility, local or regional hospital,

20  medical school, library, a university, or a 4-year or

21  community college, or county or municipal government, or

22  private business network.

23         (b)  The Department of Health shall, in consultation

24  with the State Technology Office, Department of Education,

25  Department of Community Affairs, Area Health Education

26  Centers, medical schools, and rural health networks, recommend

27  a process for the selection of the pilot participants. The

28  selection process shall consider criteria as follows:

29         1.  The extent to which the project increases access of

30  rural residents to health services;

31         2.  If the pilot project involves wireless technology,

                                  16

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

    402-138X-27                                 Bill No. CS/HB 789

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  1  demonstration of the applicant's ability to effectively deploy

  2  wireless technology based on existing infrastructure;

  3         3.  Demonstration of commitment of the applicant to use

  4  technology to improve the level of knowledge regarding

  5  individual health and health services;

  6         4.  If the pilot project involves wireless technology,

  7  potential cost savings or improved access resulting from the

  8  use of wireless rather than traditional connectivity

  9  technology;

10         5.  The ability to use the technology infrastructure in

11  other applications within the service area;

12         6.  Demonstration of willingness and ability of the

13  participants to assume ongoing costs to maintain the pilot

14  project for a minimum 3-year period. Such willingness and

15  ability may be demonstrated through intracommunity agreements

16  or other means; and 

17         7.  Such other criteria as determined by the agencies.

18         (c)  The Department of Health, in consultation with the

19  State Technology Office, Department of Education, Department

20  of Community Affairs, rural health networks, Area Health

21  Education Centers, medical schools, and local governments,

22  shall include recommendations for performance standards and

23  evaluation of pilot projects.

24         (d)  The Department of Health shall report its

25  recommendations relative to the structure and funding

26  necessary to implement the pilot programs to the President of

27  the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and

28  the Governor by December 15, 2002. Recommendations will

29  address the implementation and funding of the pilot programs.

30         (10)  AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION AND PROFITABILITY.--

31         (a)  The Department of Agriculture and Consumer

                                  17

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    402-138X-27                                 Bill No. CS/HB 789

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  Services, in consultation with the University of Florida and

  2  the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, shall

  3  develop recommendations to establish three pilot projects

  4  aimed at encouraging the diversification of agricultural

  5  production and marketing throughout the state. The purpose of

  6  the pilot projects is to demonstrate alternative crops,

  7  techniques, and industries that can enhance the profitability

  8  and sustainability of agriculture in the state. Each project

  9  must do at least one of the following: introduce alternative

10  crops, such as hot peppers, amaranth, or pigeon peas, or

11  alternative growing techniques, for example, greenhouse

12  vegetable production in North Florida or early-season

13  blueberries and peaches; or introduce a value-added activity

14  or industry, such as fruit or vegetable processing or

15  packaging, into a farming community as a means of increasing

16  the profitability of current farm products for local growers.

17  At least one of these projects must include a tobacco farm

18  that is being adversely impacted by reductions in tobacco

19  quotas. In developing the recommendations, the Commissioner of

20  Agriculture, in consultation with the Agricultural Economic

21  Development Project Review Committee as described in s.

22  570.248, Florida Statutes, shall develop selection criteria

23  and evaluation criteria. The evaluation criteria shall be

24  consistent with that for agricultural economic development

25  projects delineated in s. 570.247, Florida Statutes, and

26  include appropriate performance standards.

27         (b)  The Commissioner of Agriculture shall report the

28  department's recommendations to implement the pilot program

29  and necessary funding to the President of the Senate, the

30  Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Governor by

31  December 15, 2002.

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

    402-138X-27                                 Bill No. CS/HB 789

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1         (c)  As authorized in s. 403.0752, Florida Statutes,

  2  and based on results of current "whole farm planning" pilot

  3  projects, the Department of Environmental Protection shall

  4  work with willing partners to streamline the permitting

  5  process for agricultural land uses.

  6         (11)  REVIEW AND EVALUATION.--The Office of Program

  7  Policy Analysis and Government Accountability shall perform a

  8  review and evaluation of the grant program and financial

  9  incentives and the wireless community-based network pilot

10  program. The report must evaluate the effectiveness of the

11  designation of rural planning areas in promoting economic

12  prosperity and preserving character in the state's rural

13  areas. This report may be conducted in conjunction with a

14  review of the Urban Infill and Redevelopment Assistance Grant

15  Program. A report of the findings and recommendations of the

16  Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government

17  Accountability must be submitted to the President of the

18  Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives before

19  the 2006 Regular Session of the Legislature.

20         Section 2.  Paragraph (i) of subsection (1) of section

21  163.3187, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

22         163.3187  Amendment of adopted comprehensive plan.--

23         (1)  Amendments to comprehensive plans adopted pursuant

24  to this part may be made not more than two times during any

25  calendar year, except:

26         (i)  A comprehensive plan amendment for the purpose of

27  designating an urban infill and redevelopment area under s.

28  163.2517 or a Rural Heritage Area or Rural Activity Center

29  under the Florida Rural Heritage and Economic Stimulus Act may

30  be approved without regard to the statutory limits on the

31  frequency of amendments to the comprehensive plan.

                                  19

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

    402-138X-27                                 Bill No. CS/HB 789

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1         Section 3.  Subsection (2) of section 163.356, Florida

  2  Statutes, is amended to read:

  3         163.356  Creation of community redevelopment agency.--

  4         (2)  When the governing body adopts a resolution

  5  declaring the need for a community redevelopment agency, that

  6  body shall, by ordinance, appoint a board of commissioners of

  7  the community redevelopment agency, which shall consist of not

  8  fewer than five or more than seven commissioners. The

  9  governing body of a municipality with a population of more

10  than 100,000 and an area of more than 100 square miles may

11  appoint up to nine commissioners. The terms of office of the

12  commissioners shall be for 4 years, except that three of the

13  members first appointed shall be designated to serve terms of

14  1, 2, and 3 years, respectively, from the date of their

15  appointments, and all other members shall be designated to

16  serve for terms of 4 years from the date of their

17  appointments.  A vacancy occurring during a term shall be

18  filled for the unexpired term.

19         Section 4.  Subsections (5), (10), (16), (22), (23),

20  and (24) of section 187.201, Florida Statutes, are amended to

21  read:

22         187.201  State Comprehensive Plan adopted.--The

23  Legislature hereby adopts as the State Comprehensive Plan the

24  following specific goals and policies:

25         (5)  HOUSING.--

26         (a)  Goal.--The public and private sectors shall

27  increase the affordability and availability of housing for

28  low-income and moderate-income persons, including citizens in

29  rural areas, while at the same time encouraging

30  self-sufficiency of the individual and assuring environmental

31  and structural quality and cost-effective operations.

                                  20

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

    402-138X-27                                 Bill No. CS/HB 789

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1         (b)  Policies.--

  2         1.  Eliminate public policies which result in housing

  3  discrimination, and develop policies which encourage housing

  4  opportunities for all Florida's citizens.

  5         2.  Diminish the use of institutions to house persons

  6  by promoting deinstitutionalization to the maximum extent

  7  possible.

  8         3.  Increase the supply of safe, affordable, and

  9  sanitary housing for low-income and moderate-income persons

10  and elderly persons by alleviating housing shortages,

11  recycling older houses and redeveloping residential

12  neighborhoods, identifying housing needs, providing incentives

13  to the private sector to build affordable housing, encouraging

14  public-private partnerships to maximize the creation of

15  affordable housing, and encouraging research into low-cost

16  housing construction techniques, considering life-cycle

17  operating costs.

18         4.  Reduce the cost of housing construction by

19  eliminating unnecessary regulatory practices which add to the

20  cost of housing.

21         5.  Provide incentives and encourage research to

22  increase the supply of safe, affordable, and sanitary housing

23  for low-income, very-low-income, and moderate-income residents

24  of rural areas, as defined in s. 420.602. Such incentives and

25  research must take into account the importance of development

26  that preserves the rural character of the area and must seek

27  to mitigate the increased per-unit cost of small housing

28  projects appropriate to rural areas over the per-unit cost for

29  larger developments.

30         (10)  NATURAL SYSTEMS AND RECREATIONAL LANDS.--

31         (a)  Goal.--Florida shall protect and acquire unique

                                  21

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

    402-138X-27                                 Bill No. CS/HB 789

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  natural habitats and ecological systems, such as wetlands,

  2  tropical hardwood hammocks, palm hammocks, and virgin longleaf

  3  pine forests, and restore degraded natural systems to a

  4  functional condition.

  5         (b)  Policies.--

  6         1.  Conserve forests, wetlands, fish, marine life, and

  7  wildlife to maintain their environmental, economic, aesthetic,

  8  and recreational values.

  9         2.  Acquire, retain, manage, and inventory public lands

10  to provide recreation, conservation, and related public

11  benefits.

12         3.  Prohibit the destruction of endangered species and

13  protect their habitats.

14         4.  Establish an integrated regulatory program to

15  assure the survival of endangered and threatened species

16  within the state.

17         5.  Promote the use of agricultural practices which are

18  compatible with the protection of wildlife and natural

19  systems.

20         6.  Encourage multiple use of forest resources, where

21  appropriate, to provide for timber production, recreation,

22  wildlife habitat, watershed protection, erosion control, and

23  maintenance of water quality.

24         7.  Protect and restore the ecological functions of

25  wetlands systems to ensure their long-term environmental,

26  economic, and recreational value.

27         8.  Promote restoration of the Everglades system and of

28  the hydrological and ecological functions of degraded or

29  substantially disrupted surface waters.

30         9.  Develop and implement a comprehensive planning,

31  management, and acquisition program to ensure the integrity of

                                  22

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

    402-138X-27                                 Bill No. CS/HB 789

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  Florida's river systems.

  2         10.  Emphasize the acquisition and maintenance of

  3  ecologically intact systems in all land and water planning,

  4  management, and regulation.

  5         11.  Expand state and local efforts to provide

  6  recreational opportunities to urban areas, including the

  7  development of activity-based parks.

  8         12.  Protect and expand park systems throughout the

  9  state.

10         13.  Encourage the use of public and private financial

11  and other resources for the development of recreational and

12  nature-based tourism opportunities at the state and local

13  levels when consistent with natural-system conservation

14  principles and practices.

15         (16)  LAND USE.--

16         (a)  Goal.--In recognition of the importance of

17  preserving the natural resources and enhancing the quality of

18  life of the state, development shall be directed to those

19  areas which have in place, or have agreements to provide, the

20  land and water resources, fiscal abilities, and service

21  capacity to accommodate growth in an environmentally

22  acceptable manner.

23         (b)  Policies.--

24         1.  Promote state programs, investments, and

25  development and redevelopment activities which encourage

26  efficient development and occur in areas which will have the

27  capacity to service new population and commerce.

28         2.  Develop a system of incentives and disincentives

29  which encourages a separation of urban and rural land uses

30  while protecting water supplies, resource development, and

31  fish and wildlife habitats.

                                  23

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

    402-138X-27                                 Bill No. CS/HB 789

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1         3.  Enhance the livability and character of urban areas

  2  through the encouragement of an attractive and functional mix

  3  of living, working, shopping, and recreational activities.

  4         4.  Recognize the interwoven nature of the

  5  relationships among rural communities, agricultural lands,

  6  open space lands, urban centers, regions, and the state, and

  7  the importance of fiscally and culturally strong rural

  8  communities to state and regional economies and resources;

  9  promote state and local programs that foster integrated and

10  coordinated community-based planning efforts; and pursue land

11  use, educational, recreational, economic, transportation,

12  housing, information technology, and social service delivery

13  initiatives in the context of community planning goals.

14         5.4.  Develop a system of intergovernmental negotiation

15  for siting locally unpopular public and private land uses

16  which considers the area of population served, the impact on

17  land development patterns or important natural resources, and

18  the cost-effectiveness of service delivery.

19         6.5.  Encourage and assist local governments in

20  establishing comprehensive impact-review procedures to

21  evaluate the effects of significant development activities in

22  their jurisdictions.

23         7.6.  Consider, in land use planning and regulation,

24  the impact of land use on water quality and quantity; the

25  availability of land, water, and other natural resources to

26  meet demands; and the potential for flooding.

27         8.7.  Provide educational programs and research to meet

28  state, regional, and local planning and growth-management

29  needs.

30         (22)  THE ECONOMY.--

31         (a)  Goal.--Florida shall promote an economic climate

                                  24

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

    402-138X-27                                 Bill No. CS/HB 789

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  which provides economic stability, maximizes job

  2  opportunities, and increases per capita income for its

  3  residents.

  4         (b)  Policies.--

  5         1.  Attract new job-producing industries, corporate

  6  headquarters, distribution and service centers, regional

  7  offices, and research and development facilities to provide

  8  quality employment for the residents of Florida.

  9         2.  Promote entrepreneurship and small and

10  minority-owned business startup by providing technical and

11  information resources, facilitating capital formation, and

12  removing regulatory restraints which are unnecessary for the

13  protection of consumers and society.

14         3.  Maintain, as one of the state's primary economic

15  assets, the environment, including clean air and water,

16  beaches, forests, historic landmarks, and agricultural and

17  natural resources, and support rural communities in developing

18  nature-based tourism and heritage tourism enterprises

19  consistent with conservation of these natural resources in

20  order to provide economic benefit to those living in closest

21  proximity to those assets.

22         4.  Strengthen Florida's position in the world economy

23  through attracting foreign investment and promoting

24  international banking and trade.

25         5.  Build on the state's attractiveness to make it a

26  leader in the visual and performing arts and in all phases of

27  film, television, and recording production.

28         6.  Promote economic development for Florida residents

29  through partnerships among education, business, industry,

30  agriculture, and the arts.

31         7.  Provide increased opportunities for training

                                  25

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

    402-138X-27                                 Bill No. CS/HB 789

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  Florida's workforce to provide skilled employees for new and

  2  expanding business.

  3         8.  Promote economic self-sufficiency through training

  4  and educational programs which result in productive

  5  employment.

  6         9.  Promote cooperative employment arrangements between

  7  private employers and public sector employment efforts to

  8  provide productive, permanent employment opportunities for

  9  public assistance recipients through provisions of education

10  opportunities, tax incentives, and employment training.

11         10.  Provide for nondiscriminatory employment

12  opportunities.

13         11.  Provide quality child day care for public

14  assistance families and others who need it in order to work.

15         12.  Encourage the development of a business climate

16  that provides opportunities for the growth and expansion of

17  existing state industries, particularly those industries which

18  are compatible with Florida's environment.

19         13.  Promote coordination among Florida's ports to

20  increase their utilization.

21         14.  Encourage the full utilization by businesses of

22  the economic development enhancement programs implemented by

23  the Legislature for the purpose of extensively involving

24  private businesses in the development and expansion of

25  permanent job opportunities, especially for the economically

26  disadvantaged, through the utilization of enterprise zones,

27  community development corporations, and other programs

28  designed to enhance economic and employment opportunities.

29         (23)  AGRICULTURE.--

30         (a)  Goal.--Florida shall maintain and strive to expand

31  its food, agriculture, ornamental horticulture, aquaculture,

                                  26

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

    402-138X-27                                 Bill No. CS/HB 789

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  forestry, and related industries in order to be a healthy and

  2  competitive force in the national and international

  3  marketplace.

  4         (b)  Policies.--

  5         1.  Ensure that goals and policies contained in state

  6  and regional plans are not interpreted to permanently restrict

  7  the conversion of agricultural lands to other uses, while

  8  creating and providing economically viable options for those

  9  landowners who wish their lands to remain in agricultural

10  uses.

11         2.  Encourage diversification within the agriculture

12  industry, especially to reduce the vulnerability of

13  communities that are largely reliant upon agriculture for

14  either income or employment.

15         3.  Promote and increase international agricultural

16  marketing opportunities for all Florida agricultural

17  producers.

18         4.  Stimulate research, development, and application of

19  agricultural technology to promote and enhance the

20  conservation, production, and marketing techniques available

21  to the agriculture industry.

22         5.  Encourage conservation, wastewater recycling, and

23  other appropriate measures to assure adequate water resources

24  to meet agricultural and other beneficial needs.

25         6.  Promote entrepreneurship in the agricultural sector

26  by providing technical and informational services.

27         7.  Stimulate continued productivity through investment

28  in education and research.

29         8.  Encourage development of biological pest controls

30  to further the reduction in reliance on chemical controls.

31         9.  Conserve soil resources to maintain the economic

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

    402-138X-27                                 Bill No. CS/HB 789

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  value of land for agricultural pursuits and to prevent

  2  sedimentation in state waters.

  3         10.  Promote the vitality of Florida's agricultural

  4  industry through continued funding of basic research,

  5  extension, inspection, and analysis services and of programs

  6  providing for marketing and technical assistance and the

  7  control and eradication of diseases and infestations.

  8         11.  Continue to promote the use of lands for

  9  agricultural purposes by maintaining preferential property tax

10  treatment through the greenbelt law.

11         12.  Ensure that coordinated state planning of road,

12  rail, and waterborne transportation systems provides adequate

13  facilities for the economical transport of agricultural

14  products and supplies between producing areas and markets.

15         13.  Eliminate the discharge of inadequately treated

16  wastewater and stormwater runoff into waters of the state.

17         (24)  TOURISM.--

18         (a)  Goal.--Florida will attract at least 55 million

19  tourists annually by 1995 and shall support efforts by all

20  areas of the state wishing to develop or expand

21  tourist-related economies.

22         (b)  Policies.--

23         1.  Promote statewide tourism and support promotional

24  efforts in those parts of the state that desire to attract

25  visitors.

26         2.  Acquire and manage public lands to offer visitors

27  and residents increased outdoor experiences.

28         3.  Promote awareness of historic places and cultural

29  and historical activities.

30         4.  Develop a nature-based tourism and heritage tourism

31  industry that meets growing public demand, protects the

                                  28

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

    402-138X-27                                 Bill No. CS/HB 789

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  state's natural and cultural resources, and contributes to

  2  economic prosperity, especially in the state's rural

  3  communities.

  4         Section 5.  Subsections (13) through (39) of section

  5  420.507, Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (14)

  6  through (40), respectively, and a new subsection (13) is added

  7  to said section, to read:

  8         420.507  Powers of the corporation.--The corporation

  9  shall have all the powers necessary or convenient to carry out

10  and effectuate the purposes and provisions of this part,

11  including the following powers which are in addition to all

12  other powers granted by other provisions of this part:

13         (13)  To explore options to improve the availability of

14  affordable housing in rural areas.

15         Section 6.  Paragraphs (a) and (f) of subsection (6) of

16  section 420.5087, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

17         420.5087  State Apartment Incentive Loan

18  Program.--There is hereby created the State Apartment

19  Incentive Loan Program for the purpose of providing first,

20  second, or other subordinated mortgage loans or loan

21  guarantees to sponsors, including for-profit, nonprofit, and

22  public entities, to provide housing affordable to

23  very-low-income persons.

24         (6)  On all state apartment incentive loans, except

25  loans made to housing communities for the elderly to provide

26  for lifesafety, building preservation, health, sanitation, or

27  security-related repairs or improvements, the following

28  provisions shall apply:

29         (a)  The corporation shall establish two interest rates

30  in accordance with s. 420.507(23)(22)(a)1. and 2.

31         (f)  The review committee established by corporation

                                  29

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

    402-138X-27                                 Bill No. CS/HB 789

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  rule pursuant to this subsection shall make recommendations to

  2  the board of directors of the corporation regarding program

  3  participation under the State Apartment Incentive Loan

  4  Program.  The corporation board shall make the final ranking

  5  and the decisions regarding which applicants shall become

  6  program participants based on the scores received in the

  7  competitive ranking, further review of applications, and the

  8  recommendations of the review committee.  The corporation

  9  board shall approve or reject applications for loans and shall

10  determine the tentative loan amount available to each

11  applicant selected for participation in the program.  The

12  actual loan amount shall be determined pursuant to rule

13  adopted pursuant to s. 420.507(23)(22)(f).

14         Section 7.  Subsections (1), (2), and (4) of section

15  420.5088, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

16         420.5088  Florida Homeownership Assistance

17  Program.--There is created the Florida Homeownership

18  Assistance Program for the purpose of assisting low-income

19  persons in purchasing a home by reducing the cost of the home

20  with below-market construction financing, by reducing the

21  amount of down payment and closing costs paid by the borrower

22  to a maximum of 5 percent of the purchase price, or by

23  reducing the monthly payment to an affordable amount for the

24  purchaser. Loans shall be made available at an interest rate

25  that does not exceed 3 percent. The balance of any loan is due

26  at closing if the property is sold or transferred.

27         (1)  For loans made available pursuant to s.

28  420.507(24)(23)(a)1. or 2.:

29         (a)  The corporation may underwrite and make those

30  mortgage loans through the program to persons or families who

31  have incomes that do not exceed 80 percent of the state or

                                  30

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

    402-138X-27                                 Bill No. CS/HB 789

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  local median income, whichever is greater, adjusted for family

  2  size.

  3         (b)  Loans shall be made available for the term of the

  4  first mortgage.

  5         (c)  Loans are limited to the lesser of 25 percent of

  6  the purchase price of the home or the amount necessary to

  7  enable the purchaser to meet credit underwriting criteria.

  8         (2)  For loans made pursuant to s.

  9  420.507(24)(23)(a)3.:

10         (a)  Availability is limited to nonprofit sponsors or

11  developers who are selected for program participation pursuant

12  to this subsection.

13         (b)  Preference must be given to community development

14  corporations as defined in s. 290.033 and to community-based

15  organizations as defined in s. 420.503.

16         (c)  Priority must be given to projects that have

17  received state assistance in funding project predevelopment

18  costs.

19         (d)  The benefits of making such loans shall be

20  contractually provided to the persons or families purchasing

21  homes financed under this subsection.

22         (e)  At least 30 percent of the units in a project

23  financed pursuant to this subsection must be sold to persons

24  or families who have incomes that do not exceed 80 percent of

25  the state or local median income, whichever amount is greater,

26  adjusted for family size; and at least another 30 percent of

27  the units in a project financed pursuant to this subsection

28  must be sold to persons or families who have incomes that do

29  not exceed 50 percent of the state or local median income,

30  whichever amount is greater, adjusted for family size.

31         (f)  The maximum loan amount may not exceed 33 percent

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  1  of the total project cost.

  2         (g)  A person who purchases a home in a project

  3  financed under this subsection is eligible for a loan

  4  authorized by s. 420.507(24)(23)(a)1. or 2. in an aggregate

  5  amount not exceeding the construction loan made pursuant to

  6  this subsection.  The home purchaser must meet all the

  7  requirements for loan recipients established pursuant to the

  8  applicable loan program.

  9         (h)  The corporation shall provide, by rule, for the

10  establishment of a review committee composed of corporation

11  staff and shall establish, by rule, a scoring system for

12  evaluating and ranking applications submitted for construction

13  loans under this subsection, including, but not limited to,

14  the following criteria:

15         1.  The affordability of the housing proposed to be

16  built.

17         2.  The direct benefits of the assistance to the

18  persons who will reside in the proposed housing.

19         3.  The demonstrated capacity of the applicant to carry

20  out the proposal, including the experience of the development

21  team.

22         4.  The economic feasibility of the proposal.

23         5.  The extent to which the applicant demonstrates

24  potential cost savings by combining the benefits of different

25  governmental programs and private initiatives, including the

26  local government contributions and local government

27  comprehensive planning and activities that promote affordable

28  housing.

29         6.  The use of the least amount of program loan funds

30  compared to overall project cost.

31         7.  The provision of homeownership counseling.

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  1         8.  The applicant's agreement to exceed the

  2  requirements of paragraph (e).

  3         9.  The commitment of first mortgage financing for the

  4  balance of the construction loan and for the permanent loans

  5  to the purchasers of the housing.

  6         10.  The applicant's ability to proceed with

  7  construction.

  8         11.  The targeting objectives of the corporation which

  9  will ensure an equitable distribution of loans between rural

10  and urban areas.

11         12.  The extent to which the proposal will further the

12  purposes of this program.

13         (i)  The corporation may reject any and all

14  applications.

15         (j)  The review committee established by corporation

16  rule pursuant to this subsection shall make recommendations to

17  the corporation board regarding program participation under

18  this subsection. The corporation board shall make the final

19  ranking for participation based on the scores received in the

20  ranking, further review of the applications, and the

21  recommendations of the review committee. The corporation board

22  shall approve or reject applicants for loans and shall

23  determine the tentative loan amount available to each program

24  participant. The final loan amount shall be determined

25  pursuant to rule adopted under s. 420.507(24)(23)(h).

26         (4)  During the first 9 months of fund availability:

27         (a)  Sixty percent of the program funds shall be

28  reserved for use by borrowers pursuant to s.

29  420.507(24)(23)(a)1.;

30         (b)  Twenty percent of the program funds shall be

31  reserved for use by borrowers pursuant to s.

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

    402-138X-27                                 Bill No. CS/HB 789

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  420.507(24)(23)(a)2.; and

  2         (c)  Twenty percent of the program funds shall be

  3  reserved for use by borrowers pursuant to s.

  4  420.507(24)(23)(a)3.

  5

  6  If the application of these percentages would cause the

  7  reservation of program funds under paragraph (a) to be less

  8  than $1 million, the reservation for paragraph (a) shall be

  9  increased to $1 million or all available funds, whichever

10  amount is less, with the increase to be accomplished by

11  reducing the reservation for paragraph (b) and, if necessary,

12  paragraph (c).

13         Section 8.  The implementation of subsection (7) of

14  section 1 of this act is subject to specific appropriation or

15  the availability of funds from the Department of Community

16  Affairs.

17         Section 9.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2002.

18

19

20  ================ T I T L E   A M E N D M E N T ===============

21  And the title is amended as follows:

22  remove:  the entire title

23

24  and insert:

25                      A bill to be entitled

26         An act relating to rural development; creating

27         the Florida Rural Heritage and Economic

28         Stimulus Act; providing legislative findings;

29         providing definitions; providing for the

30         designation of a Rural Heritage Area; providing

31         for a community-based planning process;

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  1         specifying guidelines for Rural Heritage Area

  2         plans; providing procedure for adoption of a

  3         plan; providing for economic incentives,

  4         reports, and technical assistance; creating the

  5         Rural Heritage Grant Program, to be

  6         administered by the Department of Community

  7         Affairs, to assist local governments in

  8         adopting Rural Heritage Areas; providing for

  9         priority of funding; requiring the Department

10         of Community Affairs to adopt rules; providing

11         for development of a micro-loan program for

12         nature-based tourism and heritage tourism

13         businesses; providing for wireless

14         community-based network technology pilot

15         programs to be recommended by the Department of

16         Health; providing for pilot projects to

17         encourage diversification of agricultural

18         products and marketing to be recommended by the

19         Department of Agriculture and Consumer

20         Services; providing for review and evaluation

21         by the Office of Program Policy Analysis and

22         Government Accountability; amending s.

23         163.3187, F.S.; providing conditions for

24         adoption of local comprehensive plan amendments

25         for Rural Heritage Areas or Rural Activity

26         Centers; amending s. 163.356, F.S.; authorizing

27         specified municipalities to increase the number

28         of commissioners appointed to the board of

29         commissioners of the community redevelopment

30         agency; amending s. 187.201, F.S.; modifying

31         goals of the State Comprehensive Plan to

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

    402-138X-27                                 Bill No. CS/HB 789

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1         include housing for specified persons in rural

  2         areas and development of nature-based tourism;

  3         providing a policy of fostering integrated and

  4         coordinated community-based planning efforts;

  5         providing support for rural communities in

  6         developing nature-based tourism and heritage

  7         tourism enterprises; providing support for

  8         landowners who wish their lands to remain in

  9         agricultural use; amending s. 420.507, F.S.;

10         modifying powers of the Florida Housing Finance

11         Corporation; amending ss. 420.5087 and

12         420.5088, F.S.; correcting cross references;

13         providing that specified provisions are subject

14         to appropriation or the availability of agency

15         funds; providing an effective date.

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

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