FEDC Inside Track for Legislative Affairs: Senate Select Committee on Florida’s Economy Reviews Draft ‘Jobs for Florida’ Legislation
Feb 5, 2010
During its February 3, 2010 meeting, the Senate Select Committee on Florida’s Economy (“Committee”) reviewed a proposed economic development legislative package entitled “Jobs for Florida.”
This proposal includes language regarding:
- Transparency in the use of public funds for economic development
- Improved competitiveness for the Florida aviation and marine industry
- Expansion of tax incentives for machinery, manufacturing and space ports
- Incentives for businesses to hire unemployed Floridians
- Expansion of the corporate investment tax credit that produces high-paying jobs
- Expansion of the Qualified Target Industry (“QTI”) and Qualified Defense and Space Contractors job creation programs
- Expansion of the QTI Tax Refund Program through significant changes
- Addition of “digital media products” to the definition of the “entertainment industry”
- The creation of Florida’s Entertainment Incentive Program
- The creation the Florida Research Commercialization Matching Grant Program
- Delegation of Florida Department of Environmental Protection authority to local governments
- Direction of the Florida Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability to evaluate Florida’s Enterprise Zone program
- Flexibility in the use of space transportation infrastructure
- Access to credit for the Jobs for Florida Revolving Loan Program
According to Chairman Don Gaetz, the Committee will meet again on Tuesday, February 9 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. to discuss any proposed changes to the legislation. The bill is then expected to be expedited for consideration on the Senate floor during the early part of the 2010 Legislative Session
A summary of each section in the “Jobs for Florida” proposal, as well as the draft bill language, can be viewed by clicking here.
Should you have any comments or questions, please contact Tracy Mayernick (tmayernick@cftlaw.com) at Colodny Fass.
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