Title: Economic Recovery/Deepwater Horizon Disaster

Summary: Defines term "disproportionally affected county"; provides conditions under which Governor & OTTED may waive specified job, wage, & local financial support eligibility requirements; provides limitation; provides for qualified target industry business that relocates from another state to disproportionally affected county to receive certain tax refund payments; provides appropriation, etc. APPROPRIATION:

Full Text:
An act relating to economic recovery from the Deepwater Horizon disaster; creating s. 288.1062, F.S.; defining the term "disproportionally affected county"; providing conditions under which the Governor and the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development may waive specified job, wage, and local financial support eligibility requirements for certain projects; providing a limitation; providing for a qualified target industry business that relocates from another state to a disproportionally affected county to receive certain tax refund payments; providing for expiration of the section; providing an appropriation; requiring the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development to consult with certain entities to create a framework and strategy for the use of the funds to promote research and development, commercialization of research, economic diversification, and job creation in the Counties of Bay, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, and Walton; providing criteria for such use; directing the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund to provide specified recommendations to the Legislature; providing an effective date. 25 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 27 Section 1. Section 288.1062, Florida Statutes, is created to read: 288.1062 Special incentives for disproportionally affected counties.-(1) For purposes of this section, the term "disproportionally affected county" means Bay County, Escambia County, Franklin County, Gulf County, Okaloosa County, Santa Rosa County, Wakulla County, or Walton County. (2)(a) Between July 1, 2011, and June 30, 2014, if the Governor determines it is in the best interest of the public for reasons of facilitating economic development, growth, or new employment opportunities within a disproportionally affected county: 1. The Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development may waive any or all job or wage eligibility requirements under s. 288.063, s. 288.065, s. 288.0655, s. 288.0657, s. 288.0659, s. 288.107, s. 288.108, s. 288.1081, s. 288.1088, or s. 288.1089 up to the cumulative amount of $5 million of all state incentives received per project. Before granting the waiver, the director of the office shall file with the Governor a written statement of the conditions and circumstances constituting the reason for the waiver. 2. The Governor may waive any or all job or wage eligibility requirements under s. 288.063, s. 288.065, s. 288.0655, s. 288.0657, s. 288.0659, s. 288.107, s. 288.108, s. 288.1081, s. 288.1088, or s. 288.1089 for cumulative amounts in excess of $5 million but less than $10 million of all state incentives received per project. Before granting the waiver, the Governor shall provide written notice of the action at least business days before the effective date to the chair and vice chair of the Legislative Budget Commission. If the chair or vice chair of the Legislative Budget Commission advises the Governor in writing within business days before the effective date that the action exceeds the delegated authority of the Governor or is contrary to legislative policy or intent, the Governor shall void the action. (b) Neither the Governor nor the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development may waive job and wage eligibility requirements under s. 288.063, s. 288.065, s. 288.0655, s. 288.0657, s. 288.0659, s. 288.107, s. 288.108, s. 288.1081, s. 288.1088, or s. 288.1089 for cumulative amounts of $10 million or more of all state incentives received per project. (3) Between July 1, 2011, and June 30, 2014, if the Governor determines it is in the best interest of the public for reasons of facilitating economic development, growth, or new employment opportunities within a disproportionally affected county, the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development may waive any or all wage or local financial support eligibility requirements and allow a qualified target industry business from another state which locates all or a portion of its business to a disproportionally affected county to receive a tax refund payment of up to $6,000 multiplied by the number of jobs specified in the tax refund agreement under s. 288.106(5)(a)1. over the term of the agreement. Before granting the waiver, the director of the office shall file with the Governor a written statement of the conditions and circumstances constituting the reason for the waiver. The business is eligible for an additional tax refund payment under s. 288.106(3)(b)4. if the business meets the criteria provided in that subparagraph. (4) This section expires July 1, 2014. Section 2. (1) For fiscal year 2011-2012, the sum of $10 million in nonrecurring funds from the General Revenue Fund is appropriated to the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development to assist in diversifying the regional economy for the Counties of Bay, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, and Walton. The funds may be used to recruit or expand targeted industries or businesses in the region, promote research and development, promote commercialization of research, support job creation, and provide funding for matching grant opportunities with federal and private grants. The funds may not be used to pay for administrative costs. (2) The Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development shall consult with local educational entities, economic development organizations, local governments, and Florida's Great Northwest, Inc., to create a framework and strategy for the use of funds appropriated under subsection (1) and shall consider local support from these entities before approving any project. In order to promote research and development, commercialization of research, economic diversification, and job creation in the Counties of Bay, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, and Walton, the criteria for the use of such funds shall, at a minimum, require local match, job creation, return on investment, or capital investment, and shall require expedited permitting when appropriate and possible by the local governments required to issue permits. Funds may be used, on a case-by-case basis, for: (a) Universities and other institutions to conduct research for existing and prospective businesses, particularly in the disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and to provide funding for the commercialization of research that will result in the creation of new jobs. (b) Direct recruiting of new businesses to Northwest Florida, including prospect visits, the development of economic development information and materials needed to compete with other states, and events that showcase the region to prospective industry sectors. (c) Supplementing existing state and local incentives for the direct recruitment and expansion of companies in Northwest Florida, including funding for bridging the gap between incentives available in this state and incentives available in competing jurisdictions. (d) Matching grant opportunities for job creation, job training, or university research needed to develop new products. Section 3. No later than February 1, 2013, the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund shall provide recommendations to the Legislature as to whether any existing multistate compact for mutual aid should be modified or whether the state should enter into a new multistate compact to address the impacts of the Deepwater Horizon disaster or potentially similar future incidents. Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2011.