FEDC Inside Track for Legislative Affairs: Week Eight–Regular Session, 2009
Apr 20, 2009
The 2009 Florida Legislative Session begins its two-week final countdown on April 20.
Neither Committees, nor Councils will meet after April 21, unless an additional meeting is called for by legislative leadership. The last regularly scheduled committee agendas are packed with bills attempting to move forward, and a number of bills will be withdrawn from their final committees of reference.
Thus, from this point on, a majority of the work will be done on the chamber floors.
Conference Committees were announced on Friday, April 17, however they did not meet over the weekend as previously expected. At this point, Conference Committee conferees, who will be on two-hour notice, could start meeting at any time.
BUDGETS
The House and Senate have passed their respective budgets:
- House Budget Vote: 74Y-45N
- Senate Budget Vote: 39Y-0N
There were no changes in either budget to economic development matters noted in previous FEDC reports, however, below is a recap of where the House and Senate stand (as of April 20) on some of the funding levels for economic development within the Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development (“OTTED”) budget:
Senate Budget (SB 2600) OTTED funding:
- Transportation Road Fund———-$20,000,000
- Quick Action Closing Fund———-$31,923,000
- Economic development tools———-$21,137,500
(incentive programs such as Qualified Target Industry (“QTI”)Tax Refund) - Enterprise Florida operational funding———-$11,400,000
- Film and entertainment incentives———-$5,000,000
- Military base protection———-$1,000,000
- Rural community development———-$1,300,000
- Rural infrastructure———-$1,150,000
- Defense infrastructure———-$500,000
- Space Florida———-$4,000,000
Total spent on Economic Development Projects: $124,695,519
House Budget (HB 5001) OTTED funding:
- Transportation Road Fund———-$20,000,000
- Quick Action Closing Fund———-$10,000,000
- Economic development tools———-$21,137,500
(incentive programs such as QTI) - Enterprise Florida operational funding———-11,100,000
- Film and entertainment Incentives———-$15,000,000
- Military base protection———-$959,968
- Rural community development———-$1,300,000
- Rural infrastructure———-$1,537,216
- Defense infrastructure———-$500,000
- Space Florida———-$3,839,943
Total spent on Economic Development Projects: $119,380,006
Economic Development Packages
HOUSE
HB 7031 Relating to Economic Development by State Representative Jennifer Carroll
HB 7031 would revise industry code designations; create requirements and procedures for economic development incentive application process; provide time periods and requirements for certification for economic development incentive applications; provide for duties and responsibilities of Enterprise Florida, Inc. and OTTED; and revise county population criteria for loans from the Rural Community Development Revolving Loan Fund.
To read the most recent House Staff analysis of HB 7031, click here.
HB 7031 unanimously passed out of the House Finance and Tax Council on Wednesday, April 15 with amendments having been adopted that removed some of the North American Industry Classification System/Standard Industrial Classification (“NAICS/SIC”) code-related changes that the bill would have effected. Classification areas in which a directly correlative translation existed were maintained within the bill.
Areas of HB 7031 that were removed as part of the amendment process included urban and rural codes, as well as some of the renewable energy-related coding portion of the bill. Economic development-related House and Senate committee staff will be working on more complicated issues regarding the changes in this bill during the summer of 2009, with the goal of presenting and passing a bill during the next legislative session.
Among the amendments adopted was one that made adjustments to the bill’s original limited liability corporation (“LLC”) language. The LLC amendment provided for revisions based on the Florida Office of Economic and Demographic Research Revenue Estimating Conference fiscal review.
The LLC transfer incentives that were removed from HB 7031 included those for: enterprise zones, rural, urban and capital investment tax credit programs (“CITC”). Incentives that will still be transferable are: QTI, Brownfields and Qualified Defense Contractor Tax Refund programs.
QTI extension language within HB 7031 remained unchanged.
HB 7031 is now ready for consideration on the House Floor. A number of differences yet exist between it, and its Senate counterpart, SB 2034.
SENATE
SB 2034 Relating to Economic Development by Senator Rudy Garcia
SB 2034 would expand the definition of “project” to include alternative and renewable energy applicants and would authorize the waiver or reduction of requirements relating to matching funds for alternative and renewable energy projects. The bill would revises industry code designations and provide requirements and procedures for an economic development incentive application process. SB 2034 also specifies a review requirement for Quick Action Closing Fund project applications.
SB 2034 unanimously passed out of the Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee on April 16, during which it was amended to change the OTTED sunset review date from 2022 to 2009. Those NAICS/ SIC codes specified within the bill that are directly correlative in translation also were changed. Like the House, Senate Staff has expressed the intent to continue working over the summer of 2009 to make the additional changes for an anticipated 2010 bill. A requirement that the annual Rural Economic Development Initiative (“REDI”) report must be submitted to a legislative body also was included in SB 2034.
Next, the bill is scheduled to be considered by the House Finance and Tax Committee on April 20.
Senate Select Committee on Florida’s Economy
As part of its most recent meeting, the Senate Select Committee on Florida’s Economy heard a presentation by OTTED Director, Dr. Dale Brill, in which he responded to a number of questions his organization had received throughout the 2009 Interim Committee meetings. To view this presentation please click here.
Workforce Legislative Update
Fiscal Year 2009-2010 Workforce Budget Update
Florida’s Quick Response Training (QRT) grants will be a key workforce issue in imminent House and Senate budget negotiations.
The House proposes $2 million next year for QRT grants, which are popular among Florida businesses that create new jobs, and are a vital component of the state’s economic development toolkit.
The Senate proposes no funding for the 16 year-old grants that reimburse a portion of business expenses for new employee skills-upgrade training.
From 2000-2008, more than $59 million in grants have been awarded to businesses to train nearly 67,000 employees.
The FEDC, along with other statewide business associations whose legislative agendas include supporting initiatives that strengthen workforce talent and support state economic development priorities, has urged members to contact legislators to show their support for continuing QRT.
To urge legislative funding for QRT in next year’s budget, QRT supporters may contact House and Senate members of the Appropriations Conference Committee on Transportation and Economic Development by clicking here.
Workforce Florida Priority Legislation
Senate Bill 1062 by Senator Mike Fasano, and House Bill 641 by State Representative Steve Crisafulli, require Professional Employer Organizations (PEOs) to report the same employment and wage data on their clients that is required of all other Florida employers, which includes employment and wage information by industry and geographic location.
SB 1062 was unanimously passed last week by the Florida Senate. HB 641 is awaits final passage in the House.
The information in this update was provided by Workforce Florida.
News from the Governor’s Office
Governor Crist Announces Chromalloy to Expand High-Tech Manufacturing Operation in Tampa
Will potentially bring 200 new, high-wage jobs to Tampa area
Governor Charlie Crist announced on April 20, 2009 that Chromalloy Casting Tampa Corporation will invest $16.5 million to expand its engine component manufacturing operation, potentially resulting in 200 new, high-wage jobs in the Tampa area. To read the complete story, click here.
Governor Crist Announces $132 Million in Recovery Act Funding For Florida Water Projects
Funds to make low-interest loans to local governments for wastewater and stormwater construction projects
Governor Charlie Crist, continuing his efforts to reinvigorate Florida’s economy and protect Florida’s environment, announced the award of more than $132 million to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. To read the complete story, click here.
Governor Crist Announces Grand Opening of Kaplan University’s New Orlando Student Support Center, Bringing More Than 750 Jobs to Orange County
New facility to support higher education of adult learners
Governor Charlie Crist announced on April 16 that Kaplan University, a leading provider of online higher education for adult learners, celebrated the grand opening of its new student support center in Orlando, where it will employ at least 750 people. To read the complete story, click here.
Should you have any questions or comments, please contact Tracy Mayernick at Colodny Fass.