Florida Senate - 2023 CS for SB 1664
By the Committee on Commerce and Tourism; and Senator Hooper
577-03139A-23 20231664c1
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to economic development; amending s.
3 20.60, F.S.; requiring the Secretary of Economic
4 Opportunity to appoint deputy secretaries and
5 directors for specified divisions of the Department of
6 Economic Opportunity; amending s. 163.3175, F.S.;
7 revising the list of local governments affected by
8 Naval Support Activity Orlando; conforming a provision
9 to changes made by the act; amending s. 201.25, F.S.;
10 exempting loans made with funds administered by the
11 Department of Economic Opportunity from certain taxes;
12 amending s. 288.018, F.S.; revising requirements
13 relating to the Florida Rural Development Grants
14 Program; amending s. 288.065, F.S.; removing a
15 requirement that certain repayments under the Rural
16 Community Development Revolving Loan Fund be matched;
17 amending s. 288.0655, F.S.; revising grant
18 requirements and authorizations relating to the Rural
19 Infrastructure Fund; revising limits on grant awards;
20 amending s. 288.075, F.S.; revising the definition of
21 the term “economic development agency”; amending s.
22 288.8017, F.S.; specifying that the term “public
23 infrastructure projects” includes projects for
24 workforce housing; conforming provisions to changes
25 made by the act; amending s. 288.9604, F.S.; deleting
26 the future repeal of provisions governing the Florida
27 Development Finance Corporation; amending ss. 288.980
28 and 288.985, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes
29 made by the act; amending s. 288.987, F.S.; renaming
30 the Florida Defense Support Task Force as the Florida
31 Defense Support Council; amending s. 446.71, F.S.;
32 revising requirements relating to the Everglades
33 Restoration Agricultural Community Employment Training
34 Program; defining terms; authorizing, rather than
35 requiring, the department to adopt rules; amending s.
36 695.03, F.S.; requiring the Secretary of the
37 Department of Economic Opportunity, rather than the
38 Governor, to appoint certain commissioners of deeds;
39 reenacting s. 288.106(2)(b), F.S., relating to the tax
40 refund program for qualified target industry
41 businesses, to incorporate the amendment made to s.
42 288.075, F.S., in a reference thereto; providing an
43 effective date.
44
45 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
46
47 Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of section
48 20.60, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
49 20.60 Department of Economic Opportunity; creation; powers
50 and duties.—
51 (3)
52 (b) The secretary:
53 1. May create offices within the Office of the Secretary
54 and within the divisions established in paragraph (a) to promote
55 efficient and effective operation of the department.
56 2. Shall appoint deputy secretaries for the Division of
57 Strategic Business Development, the Division of Community
58 Development, and the Division of Workforce Services and
59 directors for the Division of Finance and Administration and the
60 Division of Information Technology a director for each division,
61 who shall directly administer his or her division and be
62 responsible to the secretary.
63 Section 2. Paragraph (i) of subsection (2) and subsection
64 (3) of section 163.3175, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
65 163.3175 Legislative findings on compatibility of
66 development with military installations; exchange of information
67 between local governments and military installations.—
68 (2) Certain major military installations, due to their
69 mission and activities, have a greater potential for
70 experiencing compatibility and coordination issues than others.
71 Consequently, this section and the provisions in s.
72 163.3177(6)(a), relating to compatibility of land development
73 with military installations, apply to specific affected local
74 governments in proximity to and in association with specific
75 military installations, as follows:
76 (i) Naval Support Activity Orlando, including Bugg Spring
77 and Naval Ordnance Test Unit, associated with Lake, Marion,
78 Orange, and Sumter Counties and Groveland, Howey-in-the-Hills,
79 Leesburg, County and Orlando, and Wildwood.
80 (3) The Florida Defense Support Council Task Force may
81 recommend to the Legislature changes to the military
82 installations and local governments specified in subsection (2)
83 based on a military base’s potential for impacts from
84 encroachment, and incompatible land uses and development.
85 Section 3. Subsection (4) is added to section 201.25,
86 Florida Statutes, to read:
87 201.25 Tax exemptions for certain loans.—There shall be
88 exempt from all taxes imposed by this chapter:
89 (4) Any loan made with funds administered by the Department
90 of Economic Opportunity.
91 Section 4. Paragraphs (b), (c), and (d) of subsection (1)
92 and paragraphs (b) and (c) of subsection (2) of section 288.018,
93 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
94 288.018 Regional Rural Development Grants Program.—
95 (1)
96 (b) The department shall establish a matching grant program
97 to provide funding to regional economic development
98 organizations for the purpose of building the professional
99 capacity of those organizations. Building the professional
100 capacity of a regional economic development organization
101 includes hiring professional staff to develop, deliver, and
102 provide needed economic development professional services,
103 including technical assistance, education and leadership
104 development, marketing, and project recruitment. Matching Grants
105 may also be used by a regional economic development organization
106 to provide technical assistance to local governments, local
107 economic development organizations, and existing and prospective
108 businesses.
109 (c) A regional economic development organization may apply
110 annually to the department for a matching grant. The department
111 is authorized to approve, on an annual basis, grants to such
112 regional economic development organizations. The maximum amount
113 an organization may receive in any year will be $50,000, or
114 $250,000 for any three regional economic development
115 organizations that serve an entire region of a rural area of
116 opportunity designated pursuant to s. 288.0656(7) if they are
117 recognized by the department as serving such a region.
118 (d) Grant funds received by a regional economic development
119 organization must be matched each year by nonstate resources in
120 an amount equal to 25 percent of the state contribution.
121 (2) In approving the participants, the department shall
122 consider the demonstrated need of the applicant for assistance
123 and require the following:
124 (b) Demonstration that each unit of local government has
125 made a financial or in-kind commitment to the regional
126 organization.
127 (c) Demonstration that the private sector has made
128 financial or in-kind commitments to the regional organization.
129 Section 5. Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section
130 288.065, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
131 288.065 Rural Community Development Revolving Loan Fund.—
132 (2)
133 (c) All repayments of principal and interest shall be
134 returned to the loan fund and made available for loans to other
135 applicants. However, in a rural area of opportunity designated
136 by the Governor, and upon approval by the department, repayments
137 of principal and interest may be retained by the applicant if
138 such repayments are dedicated and matched to fund regionally
139 based economic development organizations representing the rural
140 area of opportunity.
141 Section 6. Subsection (1), paragraphs (b), (c), and (e) of
142 subsection (2), and subsection (3) of section 288.0655, Florida
143 Statutes, are amended to read:
144 288.0655 Rural Infrastructure Fund.—
145 (1) There is created within the department the Rural
146 Infrastructure Fund to facilitate the planning, preparing, and
147 financing of infrastructure projects in rural communities which
148 will encourage job creation, capital investment, and the
149 strengthening and diversification of rural economies by
150 promoting tourism, trade, and economic development.
151 (2)
152 (b) To facilitate access of rural communities and rural
153 areas of opportunity as defined by the Rural Economic
154 Development Initiative to infrastructure funding programs of the
155 Federal Government, such as those offered by the United States
156 Department of Agriculture and the United States Department of
157 Commerce, and state programs, including those offered by Rural
158 Economic Development Initiative agencies, and to facilitate
159 local government or private infrastructure funding efforts, the
160 department may award grants for up to 75 50 percent of the total
161 infrastructure project cost or up to 100 percent of the total
162 infrastructure project cost for a project located in a rural
163 community or a rural area of opportunity as those terms are
164 defined in s. 288.0656(2) which is also located in a fiscally
165 constrained county as described in s. 218.67(1). Eligible
166 projects must be related to specific job-creation or job
167 retention opportunities. Eligible uses of funds projects may
168 also include improving any inadequate infrastructure that has
169 resulted in regulatory action that prohibits economic or
170 community growth, reducing the costs to community users of
171 proposed infrastructure improvements that exceed such costs in
172 comparable communities. Eligible uses of funds include, and
173 improving access to and the availability of broadband Internet
174 service; however, the funds may not be used to serve any retail
175 end user that already has access to broadband Internet service.
176 Eligible uses of funds also shall include improvements to public
177 infrastructure for industrial or commercial sites, upgrades to
178 or development of public tourism infrastructure, and
179 improvements to broadband Internet service and access in
180 unserved or underserved rural communities; however, the funds
181 may not be used to serve any retail end user that already has
182 access to broadband Internet service. Improvements to broadband
183 Internet service and access must be conducted through a
184 partnership or partnerships with one or more dealers, as defined
185 in s. 202.11(2), and the partnership or partnerships must be
186 established through a competitive selection process that is
187 publicly noticed. Authorized infrastructure may include the
188 following public or public-private partnership facilities: storm
189 water systems; telecommunications facilities; broadband
190 facilities; roads or other remedies to transportation
191 impediments; nature-based tourism facilities; or other physical
192 requirements necessary to facilitate tourism, trade, and
193 economic development activities in the community. Authorized
194 infrastructure may also include publicly or privately owned
195 self-powered nature-based tourism facilities, publicly owned
196 telecommunications facilities, and broadband facilities, and
197 additions to the distribution facilities of the existing natural
198 gas utility as defined in s. 366.04(3)(c), the existing electric
199 utility as defined in s. 366.02, or the existing water or
200 wastewater utility as defined in s. 367.021(12), or any other
201 existing water or wastewater facility, which owns a gas or
202 electric distribution system or a water or wastewater system in
203 this state where:
204 1. A contribution-in-aid of construction is required to
205 serve public or public-private partnership facilities under the
206 tariffs of any natural gas, electric, water, or wastewater
207 utility as defined herein; and
208 2. Such utilities as defined herein are willing and able to
209 provide such service.
210 (c) To facilitate timely response and induce the location
211 or expansion of specific job creating opportunities, The
212 department may award grants of up to $300,000 for infrastructure
213 feasibility studies, design and engineering activities, or other
214 infrastructure planning and preparation activities. Authorized
215 grants shall be up to $50,000 for an employment project with a
216 business committed to create at least 100 jobs; up to $150,000
217 for an employment project with a business committed to create at
218 least 300 jobs; and up to $300,000 for a project in a rural area
219 of opportunity. Grants awarded under this paragraph may be used
220 in conjunction with grants awarded under paragraph (b), provided
221 that the total amount of both grants does not exceed 30 percent
222 of the total project cost. In evaluating applications under this
223 paragraph, the department shall consider the extent to which the
224 application seeks to minimize administrative and consultant
225 expenses.
226 (e) To enable local governments to access the resources
227 available pursuant to s. 403.973(18), the department may award
228 grants for surveys, feasibility studies, and other activities
229 related to the identification and preclearance review of land
230 which is suitable for preclearance review. Authorized grants
231 under this paragraph do not require a local match and may not
232 exceed $75,000 each, except in the case of a project in a rural
233 area of opportunity, in which case the grant may not exceed
234 $300,000. Any funds awarded under this paragraph must be matched
235 at a level of 50 percent with local funds, except that any funds
236 awarded for a project in a rural area of opportunity must be
237 matched at a level of 33 percent with local funds. If an
238 application for funding is for a catalyst site, as defined in s.
239 288.0656, the requirement for local match may be waived pursuant
240 to the process in s. 288.06561. In evaluating applications under
241 this paragraph, the department shall consider the extent to
242 which the application seeks to minimize administrative and
243 consultant expenses.
244 (3) The department, in consultation with Enterprise
245 Florida, Inc., the Florida Tourism Industry Marketing
246 Corporation, the Department of Environmental Protection, and the
247 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, as
248 appropriate, shall review and certify applications pursuant to
249 s. 288.061. The review shall include an evaluation of the
250 economic benefit of the projects and their long-term viability.
251 The department shall have final approval for any grant under
252 this section.
253 Section 7. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
254 288.075, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
255 288.075 Confidentiality of records.—
256 (1) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term:
257 (a) “Economic development agency” means:
258 1. The Department of Economic Opportunity;
259 2. Any industrial development authority created in
260 accordance with part III of chapter 159 or by special law;
261 3. Space Florida created in part II of chapter 331;
262 4. The public economic development agency of a county or
263 municipality or, if the county or municipality does not have a
264 public economic development agency, the county or municipal
265 officers or employees assigned the duty to promote the general
266 business interests or industrial interests of that county or
267 municipality or the responsibilities related thereto;
268 5. Any research and development authority created in
269 accordance with part V of chapter 159; or
270 6. Any private agency, person, partnership, corporation, or
271 business entity when authorized by the state, a municipality, or
272 a county to promote the general business interests or industrial
273 interests of the state or that municipality or county.
274 Section 8. Subsection (1) of section 288.8017, Florida
275 Statutes, is amended to read:
276 288.8017 Awards.—
277 (1) Triumph Gulf Coast, Inc., shall make awards from
278 available funds to projects or programs that meet the priorities
279 for economic recovery, diversification, and enhancement of the
280 disproportionately affected counties. Awards may be provided for
281 any of the following:
282 (a) Ad valorem tax rate reduction within disproportionately
283 affected counties.;
284 (b) Local match requirements of s. 288.0655 for projects in
285 the disproportionately affected counties.;
286 (c) Public infrastructure projects for construction,
287 expansion, or maintenance which are shown to enhance economic
288 recovery, diversification, and enhancement of the
289 disproportionately affected counties. For the purposes of this
290 paragraph, the term “public infrastructure projects” includes
291 projects for workforce housing.;
292 (d) Grants to local governments in the disproportionately
293 affected counties to establish and maintain equipment and
294 trained personnel for local action plans of response to respond
295 to disasters, such as plans created for the Coastal Impacts
296 Assistance Program.;
297 (e) Grants to support programs that prepare students for
298 future occupations and careers at K-20 institutions that have
299 campuses in the disproportionately affected counties. Eligible
300 programs include those that increase students’ technology skills
301 and knowledge; encourage industry certifications; provide
302 rigorous, alternative pathways for students to meet high school
303 graduation requirements; strengthen career readiness
304 initiatives; fund high-demand programs of emphasis at the
305 bachelor’s and master’s level designated by the Board of
306 Governors; and, similar to or the same as talent retention
307 programs created by the Chancellor of the State University
308 System and the Commission of Education, encourage students with
309 interest or aptitude for science, technology, engineering,
310 mathematics, and medical disciplines to pursue postsecondary
311 education at a state university or a Florida College System
312 institution within the disproportionately affected counties.;
313 (f) Grants to support programs that provide participants in
314 the disproportionately affected counties with transferable,
315 sustainable workforce skills that are not confined to a single
316 employer.; and
317 (g) Grants to the tourism entity created under s. 288.1226
318 for the purpose of advertising and promoting tourism and Fresh
319 From Florida, and grants to promote workforce and
320 infrastructure, on behalf of all of the disproportionately
321 affected counties.
322 Section 9. Subsection (5) of section 288.9604, Florida
323 Statutes, is amended to read:
324 288.9604 Creation of the corporation.—
325 (5) This section is repealed July 1, 2023, and July 1 of
326 every fourth year thereafter, unless reviewed and saved from
327 repeal by the Legislature.
328 Section 10. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section
329 288.980, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
330 288.980 Military base retention; legislative intent; grants
331 program.—
332 (2)
333 (b)1. The department shall annually request military
334 installations in the state to provide the department with a list
335 of base buffering encroachment lands for fee simple or less
336 than-fee simple acquisitions before October 1.
337 2. The department shall submit the list of base buffering
338 encroachment lands to the Florida Defense Support Council Task
339 Force created in s. 288.987.
340 3. The Florida Defense Support Council Task Force shall,
341 annually by December 1, review the list of base buffering
342 encroachment lands submitted by the military installations and
343 provide its recommendations for ranking the lands for
344 acquisition to the department.
345 4. The department shall annually submit the list of base
346 buffering encroachment lands provided by the Florida Defense
347 Support Council Task Force to the Board of Trustees of the
348 Internal Improvement Trust Fund, which may acquire the lands
349 pursuant to s. 253.025. At a minimum, the annual list must
350 contain for each recommended land acquisition:
351 a. A legal description of the land and its property
352 identification number;
353 b. A detailed map of the land; and
354 c. A management and monitoring agreement to ensure the land
355 serves a base buffering purpose.
356 Section 11. Subsection (1) and paragraph (a) of subsection
357 (2) of section 288.985, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
358 288.985 Exemptions from public records and public meetings
359 requirements.—
360 (1) The following records held by the Florida Defense
361 Support Council Task Force are exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s.
362 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution:
363 (a) That portion of a record which relates to strengths and
364 weaknesses of military installations or military missions in
365 this state relative to the selection criteria for the
366 realignment and closure of military bases and missions under any
367 United States Department of Defense base realignment and closure
368 process.
369 (b) That portion of a record which relates to strengths and
370 weaknesses of military installations or military missions in
371 other states or territories and the vulnerability of such
372 installations or missions to base realignment or closure under
373 the United States Department of Defense base realignment and
374 closure process, and any agreements or proposals to relocate or
375 realign military units and missions from other states or
376 territories.
377 (c) That portion of a record which relates to the state’s
378 strategy to retain its military bases during any United States
379 Department of Defense base realignment and closure process and
380 any agreements or proposals to relocate or realign military
381 units and missions.
382 (2)(a) Meetings or portions of meetings of the Florida
383 Defense Support Council Task Force, or a workgroup of the
384 council task force, at which records are presented or discussed
385 that are exempt under subsection (1) are exempt from s. 286.011
386 and s. 24(b), Art. I of the State Constitution.
387 Section 12. Section 288.987, Florida Statutes, is amended
388 to read:
389 288.987 Florida Defense Support Council Task Force.—
390 (1) The Florida Defense Support Council Task Force is
391 created.
392 (2) The mission of the council task force is to make
393 recommendations to preserve and protect military installations
394 to support the state’s position in research and development
395 related to or arising out of military missions and contracting,
396 and to improve the state’s military-friendly environment for
397 servicemembers, military dependents, military retirees, and
398 businesses that bring military and base-related jobs to the
399 state.
400 (3) The council task force shall be comprised of the
401 Governor or his or her designee, and 12 members appointed as
402 follows:
403 (a) Four members appointed by the Governor.
404 (b) Four members appointed by the President of the Senate.
405 (c) Four members appointed by the Speaker of the House of
406 Representatives.
407 (d) Appointed members must represent defense-related
408 industries or communities that host military bases and
409 installations. All appointments must be made by August 1, 2011.
410 Members shall serve for a term of 4 years, with the first term
411 ending July 1, 2015. However, if members of the Legislature are
412 appointed to the council task force, those members shall serve
413 until the expiration of their legislative term and may be
414 reappointed once. A vacancy shall be filled for the remainder of
415 the unexpired term in the same manner as the initial
416 appointment. All members of the council are eligible for
417 reappointment. A member who serves in the Legislature may
418 participate in all council task force activities but may only
419 vote on matters that are advisory.
420 (4) The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the
421 House of Representatives shall each designate one of their
422 appointees to serve as chair of the council task force. The
423 chair shall rotate each July 1. The appointee designated by the
424 President of the Senate shall serve as initial chair. If the
425 Governor, instead of his or her designee, participates in the
426 activities of the council task force, then the Governor shall
427 serve as chair.
428 (5) The Secretary of Economic Opportunity, or his or her
429 designee, shall serve as the ex officio, nonvoting executive
430 director of the council task force.
431 (6) The council task force shall submit an annual progress
432 report and work plan to the Governor, the President of the
433 Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives each
434 February 1.
435 (7) The department shall contract with the council task
436 force for expenditure of appropriated funds, which may be used
437 by the council task force for economic and product research and
438 development, joint planning with host communities to accommodate
439 military missions and prevent base encroachment, advocacy on the
440 state’s behalf with federal civilian and military officials,
441 assistance to school districts in providing a smooth transition
442 for large numbers of additional military-related students, job
443 training and placement for military spouses in communities with
444 high proportions of active duty military personnel, and
445 promotion of the state to military and related contractors and
446 employers. The council task force may annually spend up to
447 $250,000 of funds appropriated to the department for the council
448 task force for staffing and administrative expenses of the
449 council task force, including travel and per diem costs incurred
450 by council task force members who are not otherwise eligible for
451 state reimbursement.
452 Section 13. Section 446.71, Florida Statutes, is amended to
453 read:
454 446.71 Everglades Restoration Agricultural Community
455 Employment Training Program.—
456 (1) The Department of Economic Opportunity, in cooperation
457 with the state board as defined in s. 445.002, shall establish
458 the Everglades Restoration Agricultural Community Employment
459 Training Program within the Department of Economic Opportunity.
460 The Department of Economic Opportunity shall use funds
461 appropriated to the program by the Legislature to provide grants
462 to stimulate and support training and employment programs that
463 seek to match persons who complete such training programs to
464 nonagricultural employment opportunities in areas of high
465 agricultural unemployment, and to provide other training,
466 educational, and information services necessary to stimulate the
467 creation of jobs in the areas of high agricultural unemployment.
468 In determining whether to provide funds to a particular program,
469 the Department of Economic Opportunity shall consider the
470 location of the program in proximity to the program’s intended
471 participants.
472 (2) The Legislature supports projects that improve the
473 economy in the Everglades Agricultural Area. In recognition of
474 the employment opportunities and economic development generated
475 by new and expanding industries in the area, such as the
476 Airglades Airport in Hendry County and the development of an
477 inland port in Palm Beach County, the Legislature finds that
478 training the citizens of the state to fill the needs of these
479 industries significantly enhances the economic viability of the
480 region.
481 (2) As used in this section, the term:
482 (a) “Department” means the Department of Economic
483 Opportunity.
484 (b) “Employer-based training program” means a program
485 established by, or to be established by, a business in this
486 state that provides training for in-demand nonagricultural
487 occupations for its employees.
488 (c) “Everglades Agricultural Area” has the same meaning as
489 in s. 373.4592(15).
490 (d) “Institution-based training program” means a
491 certificate program or other program of study provided by a
492 public or private university, college, or technical or
493 vocational training institution which provides training for in
494 demand nonagricultural occupations.
495 (e) “Program” means the Everglades Restoration Agricultural
496 Community Employment Training Program.
497 (3) The department, in cooperation with the state board as
498 defined in s. 445.002, shall establish the Everglades
499 Restoration Agricultural Community Employment Training Program.
500 The department shall use funds appropriated to the program by
501 the Legislature to provide grants to stimulate and support
502 employer-based training programs and institution-based training
503 programs that seek to match persons who complete such training
504 programs to nonagricultural employment opportunities in the
505 Everglades Agricultural Area and any rural area of opportunity
506 as defined in s. 288.0656(2), which includes DeSoto, Glades,
507 Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, and Okeechobee Counties and the
508 cities of Belle Glade, Immokalee, Pahokee, and South Bay. The
509 department shall use program funds to provide training,
510 educational, and information services necessary to stimulate the
511 creation of jobs in the Everglades Agricultural Area and in any
512 rural area of opportunity as defined in s. 288.0656(2), which
513 includes DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, and
514 Okeechobee Counties and the cities of Belle Glade, Immokalee,
515 Pahokee, and South Bay. In determining whether to provide funds
516 to a particular employer-based training program or institution
517 based training program, the department must consider the
518 location of such training program in proximity to the program’s
519 intended participants.
520 (4) Program funds may be used to provide for grants for
521 tuition for institution-based training public or private
522 technical or vocational programs. Program funds may also be used
523 for and matching grants to employers to conduct employer-based
524 training programs. Funds may be used, or for the purchase of
525 equipment necessary to be used for training purposes, the hiring
526 of instructors, or any other purpose directly associated with
527 the employer-based training programs or institution-based
528 training programs. For the first 6 months of each fiscal year,
529 the department shall set aside up to 50 percent of the funds
530 appropriated to the program by the Legislature to fund employer
531 based training programs. At the end of the 6-month period, any
532 unused funds from the set-aside funds may be used to provide
533 funding for institution-based training programs program.
534 (5)(4) The department of Economic Opportunity may not award
535 a grant to any employer-based given training program if the
536 grant which exceeds 50 percent of the total cost of the program.
537 If, unless the employer-based training program is located within
538 a rural area of opportunity, the department may award a grant of
539 in which case the grant may exceed 50 percent of the total cost
540 of the program and up to 100 percent of program costs. Employer
541 matching contributions may include in-kind services, including,
542 but not limited to, the provision of training instructors,
543 equipment, and training facilities. The department must
544 prioritize grants to employer-based training programs that are
545 located in the Everglades Agricultural Area or in any rural area
546 of opportunity as defined in s. 288.0656(2), which includes
547 DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, and Okeechobee
548 Counties and the cities of Belle Glade, Immokalee, Pahokee, and
549 South Bay.
550 (6)(5) Before awarding a grant pursuant to granting a
551 request for funds made in accordance with this section, the
552 department of Economic Opportunity shall enter into a grant
553 agreement with the employer or requester of funds and the
554 institution receiving funding through the program. Such
555 agreement must include all of the following information:
556 (a) An identification of the personnel necessary to conduct
557 the instructional program, the qualifications of such personnel,
558 and the respective responsibilities of the parties for paying
559 costs associated with the employment of such personnel.
560 (b) An identification of the estimated length of the
561 instructional program.
562 (c) An identification of all direct, training-related
563 costs, including tuition and fees, curriculum development, books
564 and classroom materials, and overhead or indirect costs.
565 (d) An identification of special program requirements that
566 are not otherwise addressed in the agreement.
567 (7)(6) The department of Economic Opportunity may grant up
568 to 100 percent of the tuition for an institution-based a
569 training program participant who currently resides, and has
570 resided for the preceding 12 months at least 3 of the 5
571 immediately preceding years, within the Everglades Agricultural
572 Area or in any rural area of opportunity as defined in s.
573 288.0656(2), which includes DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry,
574 Highlands, and Okeechobee Counties and the cities of Belle
575 Glade, Immokalee, Pahokee, and South Bay, as described in s.
576 373.4592 and in counties that provides provide for water storage
577 and dispersed water storage that are located in rural areas of
578 opportunity as described in s. 288.0656.
579 (8)(7) Employer-based training programs established in the
580 Everglades Agricultural Area or in any rural area of opportunity
581 as defined in s. 288.0656(2), which includes DeSoto, Glades,
582 Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, and Okeechobee Counties and the
583 cities of Belle Glade, Immokalee, Pahokee, and South Bay, must
584 include opportunities to obtain the qualifications and skills
585 necessary for jobs related to federal and state restoration
586 projects, the Airglades Airport in Hendry County, an inland port
587 in Palm Beach County, or other industries with a verifiable,
588 demonstrated interest in operating within the Everglades
589 Agricultural Area or in any rural area of opportunity as defined
590 in s. 288.0656(2), which includes DeSoto, Glades, Hardee,
591 Hendry, Highlands, and Okeechobee Counties and the cities of
592 Belle Glade, Immokalee, Pahokee, and South Bay, and in counties
593 that provides provide for water storage and dispersed water
594 storage that are located in rural areas of opportunity as
595 described in s. 288.0656.
596 (9)(8) The department may of Economic Opportunity shall
597 adopt rules to implement this section.
598 Section 14. Subsections (2) and (3) of section 695.03,
599 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
600 695.03 Acknowledgment and proof; validation of certain
601 acknowledgments; legalization or authentication before foreign
602 officials.—To entitle any instrument concerning real property to
603 be recorded, the execution must be acknowledged by the party
604 executing it, proved by a subscribing witness to it, or
605 legalized or authenticated in one of the following forms:
606 (2) OUTSIDE THIS STATE BUT WITHIN THE UNITED STATES.—An
607 acknowledgment or a proof taken, administered, or made outside
608 of this state but within the United States may be taken,
609 administered, or made by or before a civil-law notary of this
610 state or a commissioner of deeds appointed by the Secretary of
611 the Department of Economic Opportunity Governor of this state; a
612 judge or clerk of any court of the United States or of any
613 state, territory, or district; by or before a United States
614 commissioner or magistrate; or by or before any notary public,
615 justice of the peace, master in chancery, or registrar or
616 recorder of deeds of any state, territory, or district having a
617 seal, and the certificate of acknowledgment or proof must be
618 under the seal of the court or officer, as the case may be. If
619 the acknowledgment or proof is taken, administered, or made by
620 or before a notary public who does not affix a seal, it is
621 sufficient for the notary public to type, print, or write by
622 hand on the instrument, “I am a Notary Public of the State of
623 ...(state)..., and my commission expires on ...(date)....”
624 (3) OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES OR WITHIN FOREIGN
625 COUNTRIES.—An acknowledgment, an affidavit, an oath, a
626 legalization, an authentication, or a proof taken, administered,
627 or made outside the United States or in a foreign country may be
628 taken, administered, or made by or before a commissioner of
629 deeds appointed by the Secretary of the Department of Economic
630 Opportunity Governor of this state to act in such country;
631 before a notary public of such foreign country or a civil-law
632 notary of this state or of such foreign country who has an
633 official seal; before an ambassador, envoy extraordinary,
634 minister plenipotentiary, minister, commissioner, charge
635 d’affaires, consul general, consul, vice consul, consular agent,
636 or other diplomatic or consular officer of the United States
637 appointed to reside in such country; or before a military or
638 naval officer authorized by 10 U.S.C. s. 1044a to perform the
639 duties of notary public, and the certificate of acknowledgment,
640 legalization, authentication, or proof must be under the seal of
641 the officer. A certificate legalizing or authenticating the
642 signature of a person executing an instrument concerning real
643 property and to which a civil-law notary or notary public of
644 that country has affixed her or his official seal is sufficient
645 as an acknowledgment. For the purposes of this section, the term
646 “civil-law notary” means a civil-law notary as defined in
647 chapter 118 or an official of a foreign country who has an
648 official seal and who is authorized to make legal or lawful the
649 execution of any document in that jurisdiction, in which
650 jurisdiction the affixing of her or his official seal is deemed
651 proof of the execution of the document or deed in full
652 compliance with the laws of that jurisdiction.
653 Section 15. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
654 made by this act to section 288.075, Florida Statutes, in a
655 reference thereto, paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section
656 288.106, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
657 288.106 Tax refund program for qualified target industry
658 businesses.—
659 (2) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section:
660 (b) “Authorized local economic development agency” means a
661 public or private entity, including an entity defined in s.
662 288.075, authorized by a county or municipality to promote the
663 general business or industrial interests of that county or
664 municipality.
665 Section 16. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023.