HB 1311

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to qualified job-training organizations;
3	creating s. 288.1171, F.S.; defining the term "qualified
4	job-training organization"; providing for the Office of
5	Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development to certify
6	qualified job-training organizations; providing for the
7	distribution of certain funds to a certified organization;
8	specifying uses of the funds; authorizing the Auditor
9	General to audit such organizations for certain purposes;
10	providing for revocation of certification under certain
11	circumstances; providing appropriations for a certain
12	period; providing for appropriations to be distributed
13	through the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic
14	Development; providing an effective date.
15
16	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
17
18	Section 1.  Section 288.1171, Florida Statutes, is created
19	to read:
20	288.1171  Qualified job-training organizations;
21	certification; duties.--
22	(1)  As used in this section, the term "qualified job-
23	training organization" means an organization that satisfies all
24	of the following:
25	(a)  Is accredited by the Commission for Accreditation of
26	Rehabilitation Facilities.
27	(b)  Collects Florida state sales tax.
28	(c)  Operates statewide and has more than 100 locations
29	within the state.
30	(d)  Is exempt from income taxation under s. 501(c)3 or s.
31	501(c)4 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
32	(e)  Specializes in the retail sale of donated items.
33	(f)  Provides job training and employment services to
34	individuals who have workplace disadvantages and disabilities.
35	(g)  Uses a majority of its revenues for job training and
36	placement programs that create jobs and foster economic
37	development.
38	(2)  To be eligible for funding, an organization must be
39	certified by the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic
40	Development as meeting the criteria in subsection (1).
41	(3)  A qualified job-training organization that is
42	certified must use the proceeds provided solely to encourage and
43	provide economic development through capital construction,
44	improvements, or the purchase of equipment that will result in
45	expanded employment opportunities.
46	(4)  The Auditor General may audit a qualified job-training
47	organization to verify that distributions made to the
48	organization have been expended pursuant to this section. If the
49	Auditor General determines that the distributions have not been
50	expended as required, the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic
51	Development may recover such proceeds pursuant to the laws and
52	rules governing the assessment of taxes.
53	(5)  The failure to use the proceeds as required
54	constitutes grounds for revoking certification.
55	Section 2.  The sum of $3 million per year is appropriated
56	from nonrecurring general revenue for 10 years to the Office of
57	Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development for the purpose
58	specified in s. 288.1171(3), Florida Statutes. For the 2006-2007
59	fiscal year, these funds are appropriated from nonrecurring
60	general revenue. For the 2007-2008 through 2016-2017 fiscal
61	years, the funds shall be appropriated from nonrecurring general
62	revenue or as specifically provided in the General
63	Appropriations Act. The funds shall be distributed by the Office
64	of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development to organizations
65	meeting the requirements of s. 288.1171, Florida Statutes,
66	solely to encourage and provide economic development through
67	capital construction, improvements, or the purchase of equipment
68	that will result in expanded employment opportunities.
69	Section 3.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2006.

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