Title: Use of Public Moneys and Property

Summary: Prohibits use of public funds for certain purposes benefiting professional sports team; provides exceptions; provides for ad valorem taxation of property owned by governmental entity if property is used by private entity for nonexempt purpose.

Full Text:
An act relating to the use of public moneys and property; defining the terms "governmental entity," "professional sports team," and "public funds"; prohibiting the use of public funds for certain purposes benefiting a professional sports team; providing exceptions; amending s. 196.199, F.S.; providing for the ad valorem taxation of property owned by a governmental entity if the property is used by a private entity for a nonexempt purpose; providing effective dates. 12 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 14 Section 1. (1) As used in this section, the term: (a) "Governmental entity" means the state, a county, a municipality, or an entity created by and acting on behalf of the state, a county, or a municipality. (b) "Professional sports team" means a professional sports franchise that exists within the National League or American League of Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, the National Football League, or the National Hockey League. (c) "Public funds" means any moneys held by a governmental entity. (2) Notwithstanding any other law and except as provided in subsection (3), a governmental entity may not expend public funds in aid of a professional sports team, to pay for a facility used or intended to be used for a professional sports team, or for a sporting event of a professional sports team, unless the expenditure is approved by a majority vote of the registered electors residing within the jurisdictional boundaries of the governmental entity. (3) This section does not prohibit the expenditure of funds to meet a legally binding obligation of a governmental entity which was created before July 1, 2011, or to compensate an employee of a governmental entity for an activity that is within the scope of his or her employment and that assists a professional sports team in an incidental manner, such as advising a professional sports team of applicable regulatory requirements. Section 2. Effective January 1, 2012, subsection (11) is added to section 196.199, Florida Statutes, to read: 196.199 Government property exemption.-(11) Property that is owned by a governmental entity and that is otherwise exempt or immune from taxation is taxable if the property is used by a private entity in any manner other than predominantly for a governmental, charitable, literary, religious, scientific, or educational purpose. Section 3. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this act, this act shall take effect July 1, 2011.