Florida Senate - 2018                                    SB 1538
       
       
        
       By Senator Rodriguez
       
       
       
       
       
       37-00755-18                                           20181538__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to employment in the renewable energy
    3         industry; creating s. 288.953, F.S.; establishing the
    4         Renewable Energy Jobs Assistance Program within the
    5         Department of Economic Opportunity; providing a
    6         purpose for the program; requiring the department to
    7         establish an application process for grants awarded
    8         and loans made under the program; requiring the
    9         department to determine the need for workers in
   10         specific areas of the renewable energy industry and to
   11         award grants or make loans based on that
   12         determination; providing requirements for loans;
   13         requiring the department to adopt rules; providing an
   14         appropriation; providing an effective date.
   15          
   16  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   17  
   18         Section 1. Section 288.953, Florida Statutes, is created to
   19  read:
   20         288.953 Renewable Energy Jobs Assistance Program.—
   21         (1) The Renewable Energy Jobs Assistance Program is
   22  established within the department to support the growth and
   23  sustainability of the renewable energy industry in this state.
   24         (2) The department shall establish an application process
   25  for individuals seeking funds for expenses related to education,
   26  training, or retraining for positions in the renewable energy
   27  industry.
   28         (3) The department shall determine which areas in the
   29  renewable energy industry have the greatest need for additional
   30  workers and prioritize the awarding of grants to applicants
   31  seeking education, training, or retraining to qualify them for
   32  employment in those areas and the making of low-interest loans
   33  to applicants seeking education, training, or retraining to
   34  qualify them for employment in areas determined to have a lower
   35  need for new workers.
   36         (4) Loans provided under the program must meet the
   37  following requirements:
   38         (a) The maximum amount of a loan is $200,000.
   39         (b) The proceeds of the loan may be used only for tuition
   40  and related expenses at a state university, a Florida College
   41  System institution, or a career center operated under s.
   42  1001.44.
   43         (c) The term of the loan is 4 years.
   44         (d) The interest rate of the loan is 2 percent.
   45         (e) For the first 12 months of the term of a loan, payment
   46  is due for interest only, payable during the 12th month of the
   47  loan term. After that time, payment for interest and principal
   48  is due each month until the loan is paid in full. Interest and
   49  principal payments must be based on the unpaid balance of the
   50  total loan amount.
   51         (5) The department shall adopt rules to administer this
   52  section.
   53         Section 2. For the 2018-2019 fiscal year, the sum of $20
   54  million in nonrecurring funds is appropriated from the General
   55  Revenue Fund to the Department of Economic Opportunity for the
   56  purpose of implementing the Renewable Energy Jobs Assistance
   57  Program established by this act.
   58         Section 3. This act shall take effect October 1, 2018.