Bill > S0110

Introduced Session

An act relating to rural communities; reenacting and amending s. 20.60, F.S.; revising the list of divisions and offices within the Department of Commerce to conform to changes made by the act; revising the annual program reports that must be included in the annual report of the Department of Commerce; amending s. 163.3168, F.S.; requiring the state land planning agency to give preference for technical assistance funding to local governments located in a rural area of opportunity; requiring the agency to consult with the Office of Rural Prosperity when awarding certain funding; amending s. 201.15, F.S.; requiring that a certain sum be paid to the credit of the State Transportation Trust Fund for the exclusive use of the Florida Arterial Road Modernization Program; amending s. 202.18, F.S.; redirecting the transfer of certain communication services tax revenue; amending s. 212.20, F.S.; revising the distribution of sales and use tax revenue to include a transfer to fiscally constrained counties; amending s. 215.971, F.S.; providing construction regarding agreements funded with federal or state assistance; requiring the agency to expedite payment requests from a county, municipality, or rural area of opportunity for a specified purpose; requiring each state agency to report to the Office of Rural Prosperity by a certain date with a summary of certain information; requiring the office to summarize the information it receives for its annual report; amending s. 218.67, F.S.; revising the conditions required for a county to be considered a fiscally constrained county; authorizing eligible counties to receive a distribution of sales and use tax revenue; revising the sources that the Department of Revenue must use to determine the amount distributed to fiscally constrained counties; revising the factors for allocation of the distribution of revenue to fiscally constrained counties; requiring that the computation and amount distributed be calculated based on a specified rounding algorithm; authorizing specified uses for the revenue; conforming a cross reference; amending s. 288.0001, F.S.; requiring the Office of Economic and Demographic Research and the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA) to prepare a report for a specified purpose; specifying requirements for the report; providing that the Office of Economic and Demographic Research and OPPAGA must be provided with all data necessary to complete the rural communities or areas report upon request; authorizing the Office of Economic and Demographic Research and OPPAGA to collaborate on all data collection and analysis; requiring the Office of Economic and Demographic Research and OPPAGA to submit the report to the Legislature by a specified date; providing additional requirements for the report; providing for expiration; amending s. 288.001, F.S.; requiring the Florida Small Business Development Center Network to use certain funds appropriated for a specified purpose; authorizing the network to dedicate funds to facilitate certain events; amending s. 288.007, F.S.; revising which local governments and economic development organizations seeking to recruit businesses are required to submit a specified report; creating s. 288.013, F.S.; providing legislative findings; creating the Office of Rural Prosperity within the Department of Commerce; requiring the Governor to appoint a director, subject to confirmation by the Senate; providing that the director reports to and serves at the pleasure of the secretary of the department; providing the duties of the office; requiring the office to establish by a specified date a certain number of regional rural community liaison centers across this state for a specified purpose; providing the powers, duties, and functions of the liaison centers; requiring the liaison centers, to the extent possible, to coordinate with certain entities; requiring the liaison centers to engage with the Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI); requiring at least one staff member of a liaison center to attend the monthly meetings in person or by means of electronic communication; requiring the director of the office to submit an annual report to the Administration Commission in the Executive Office of the Governor; specifying requirements for the annual report; requiring that the annual report also be submitted to the Legislature by a specified date and published on the office’s website; requiring the director of the office to attend the next Administration Commission meeting to present detailed information from the annual report; requiring OPPAGA to review the effectiveness of the office by a certain date annually until a specified date; requiring OPPAGA to review the office at specified intervals; requiring such reviews to include certain information to be considered by the Legislature; requiring that such reports be submitted to the Legislature; requiring OPPAGA to review certain strategies from other states; requiring OPPAGA to submit to the Legislature its findings at certain intervals; creating s. 288.014, F.S.; providing legislative findings; requiring the Office of Rural Prosperity to administer the Renaissance Grants Program to provide block grants to eligible communities; requiring the Office of Economic and Demographic Research to certify to the Office of Rural Prosperity certain information by a specified date; defining the term “growth-impeded”; requiring the Office of Economic and Demographic Research to certify annually that a county remains growth-impeded until such county has positive population growth for a specified amount of time; providing that such county, after 3 consecutive years of population growth, is eligible to participate in the program for 1 additional year; requiring a county eligible for the program to enter into an agreement with the Office of Rural Prosperity in order to receive the block grant; giving such counties broad authority to design their specific plans; prohibiting the Office of Rural Prosperity from determining how such counties implement the block grant; requiring regional rural community liaison center staff to provide assistance, upon request; requiring participating counties to report annually to the Office of Rural Prosperity with certain information; providing that a participating county receives a specified amount from funds appropriated to the program; requiring participating counties to make all attempts to limit the amount spent on administrative costs; authorizing participating counties to contribute other funds for block grant purposes; requiring participating counties to hire a renaissance coordinator; providing that funds from the block grant may be used to hire the renaissance coordinator; providing the responsibilities of the renaissance coordinator; requiring the regional rural community liaison center staff to provide assistance and training to the renaissance coordinator, upon request; requiring participating counties to design a plan to make targeted investments to achieve population growth and increase economic vitality; providing requirements for such plans; requiring participating counties to develop intergovernmental agreements with certain entities in order to implement the plan; requiring the Auditor General to conduct an operational audit every 2 years for a specified purpose; requiring the Office of Economic and Demographic Research to provide an annual report on a specified date of renaissance block grant recipients by county; providing requirements for the annual report; requiring that the report be submitted to the Legislature; prohibiting funds appropriated for the program from being subject to reversion; providing for an expiration of the section; creating s. 288.0175, F.S.; creating the Public Infrastructure Smart Technology Grant Program within the Office of Rural Prosperity; defining terms; requiring the office to contract with one or more smart technology lead organizations to administer a grant program for a specified purpose; providing the criteria for such contracts; requiring that projects funded by the grant program be included in the office’s annual report; amending s. 288.018, F.S.; requiring the office, rather than the Department of Commerce, to establish a grant program to provide funding for regional economic development organizations; revising who may apply for such grants; providing that a grant award may not exceed a certain amount in a year; providing exceptions to a provision that the department may expend a certain amount for a certain purpose; amending s. 288.019, F.S.; revising the program criteria and procedures that agencies and organizations of REDI are required to review; revising the list of impacts each REDI agency and organization must consider in its review; requiring REDI agencies and organizations to develop a proposal for modifications which minimizes the financial and resource impacts to a rural community; requiring that ranking of evaluation criteria and scoring procedures be used only when ranking is a component of the program; requiring that match requirements be waived or reduced for rural communities; providing that donations of land may be treated as in-kind matches; requiring each agency and organization that applies for or receives federal funding to request federal approval to waive or reduce the financial match requirements, if any, for projects in rural communities; requiring that proposals be submitted to the office, rather than the department; requiring each REDI agency and organization to modify rules or policies as necessary to reflect the finalized proposal; requiring that information about authorized waivers be included on the office’s online rural resource directory; conforming a cross-reference; amending s. 288.021, F.S.; requiring, when practicable, the economic development liaison to serve as the agency representative for REDI; amending s. 288.065, F.S.; defining the term “unit of local government”; requiring the office to include in its annual report certain information about the Rural Community Development Revolving Loan Fund; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; amending s. 288.0655, F.S.; revising the list of grants that may be awarded by the office; deleting the authorization for local match requirements to be waived for a catalyst site; revising the list of departments the office must consult with to certify applicants; requiring the office to include certain information about the Rural Infrastructure Trust Fund in its annual report; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; amending s. 288.0656, F.S.; providing legislative findings; providing that REDI is created within the Office of Rural Prosperity, rather than the department; deleting the definitions of the terms “catalyst project” and “catalyst site”; requiring that an alternate for each designated deputy secretary be a deputy secretary or higher-level staff person; requiring that the names of such alternates be reported to the director of the office; requiring at least one rural liaison to participate in REDI meetings; requiring REDI to meet at least each month; deleting a provision that a rural area of opportunity may designate catalyst projects; requiring REDI to submit a certain report to the office, rather than to the department; specifying requirements for such report; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; repealing s. 288.06561, F.S., relating to reduction or waiver of financial match requirements; amending s. 288.0657, F.S.; requiring the office, rather than the department, to provide grants to assist rural communities; providing that such grants may be used for specified purposes; requiring the rural liaison to assist those applying for such grants; providing that marketing grants may include certain funding; amending s. 288.1226, F.S.; revising required components of the 4-year marketing plan of the Florida Tourism Industry Marketing Corporation; repealing s. 288.12266, F.S., relating to the Targeted Marketing Assistance Program; amending s. 288.9961, F.S.; revising the definition of the term “underserved”; requiring the office to consult with regional rural community liaison centers on development of a certain strategic plan; requiring rural liaisons to assist rural communities with providing feedback in applying for federal grants for broadband Internet services; requiring the office to submit reports with specified information to the Governor and the Legislature within certain timeframes; repealing s. 290.06561, F.S., relating to designation of rural enterprise zones as catalyst sites; amending s. 319.32, F.S.; revising the disposition of fees collected for certain title certificates; amending s. 334.044, F.S.; revising the powers and duties of the Department of Transportation; amending s. 339.0801, F.S.; revising the allocation of funds received in the State Transportation Trust Fund; amending s. 339.2816, F.S.; requiring, rather than authorizing, that certain funds received from the State Transportation Trust Fund be used for the Small County Road Assistance Program; requiring the department to use other additional revenues for the Small County Road Assistance Program; providing an exception from the prohibition against funding capacity improvements on county roads; amending s. 339.2817, F.S.; revising the criteria that the Department of Transportation must consider for evaluating projects for County Incentive Grant Program assistance; requiring the department to give priority to counties located either wholly or partially within the Everglades Agricultural Area and which request a specified percentage of project costs for eligible projects; specifying a limitation on such requests; providing for future expiration; amending s. 339.2818, F.S.; deleting a provision that the funds allocated under the Small County Outreach Program are in addition to the Small County Road Assistance Program; deleting a provision that a local government within the Everglades Agricultural Area, the Peace River Basin, or the Suwannee River Basin may compete for additional funding; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; making a technical change; amending s. 339.68, F.S.; providing legislative findings; creating the Florida Arterial Road Modernization Program within the Department of Commerce; defining the term “rural community”; requiring the department to allocate from the State Transportation Trust Fund a minimum sum in each fiscal year to fund the program; providing that such funding is in addition to any other funding provided to the program; providing criteria the department must use to prioritize projects for funding under the program; requiring the department to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature by a specified date; requiring that such report be submitted every 2 years thereafter; providing the criteria for such report; requiring the Department of Transportation to allocate additional funds to implement the Small County Road Assistance Program and amend the tentative work program for a specified number of fiscal years; requiring the department to submit a budget amendment before the adoption of the work program; requiring the department to allocate sufficient funds to implement the Florida Arterial Road Modernization Program; requiring the department to amend the current tentative work program for a specified number of fiscal years to include the program’s projects; requiring the department to submit a budget amendment before the implementation of the program; requiring that the revenue increases in the State Transportation Trust Fund which are derived from the act be used to fund the work program; amending s. 381.402, F.S.; revising eligibility requirements for the Florida Reimbursement Assistance for Medical Education Program; revising the proof required to make payments for participation in the program; creating s. 381.403, F.S.; providing legislative findings; creating the Rural Access to Primary and Preventive Care Grant Program within the Department of Health for a specified purpose; defining terms; requiring the department to award grants under the program to physicians, physician assistants, and autonomous advanced practice registered nurses intending to open new practices or practice locations in qualifying rural areas; specifying eligibility criteria for the grants; requiring the department, by a specified date, to create an application process for applying for grants under the program; specifying requirements for the application and application process; authorizing the department, subject to specific appropriation, to award grants under the program; specifying limitations on the awarding of grants; specifying expenses for which grant funds are authorized and prohibited; requiring the department to enter into a contract with each grant recipient; specifying requirements for the contracts; authorizing the department to adopt rules; requiring the department, beginning on a specified date and annually thereafter, to provide a report containing specified information to the Governor and the Legislature; providing for future legislative review and repeal of the program; creating s. 381.9856, F.S.; creating the Stroke, Cardiac, and Obstetric Response and Education Grant Program within the Department of Health; specifying the purpose of the program; defining terms; requiring the department to award grants under the program to certain entities meeting specified criteria; requiring the department to give priority to certain applicants; limiting individual grants to a specified amount per year; requiring grant recipients to submit quarterly reports to the department; requiring the department to monitor program implementation and outcomes; requiring the department to submit an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature by a specified date; authorizing the department to adopt rules; providing construction; providing for future legislative review and repeal of the program; amending s. 395.6061, F.S.; providing that rural hospital capital grant improvement program funding may be awarded to rural hospitals to establish mobile care units and telehealth kiosks for specified purposes; defining terms; amending s. 420.9073, F.S.; revising the calculation of guaranteed amounts distributed from the Local Government Housing Trust Fund; reenacting and amending s. 420.9075, F.S.; authorizing a certain percentage of the funds made available in each county and eligible municipality from the local housing distribution to be used to preserve multifamily affordable rental housing; specifying what such funds may be used for; providing an expiration; amending s. 1001.451, F.S.; revising the services required to be provided by regional consortium service organizations when such services are found to be necessary and appropriate by such organizations’ boards of directors; revising the allocation that certain regional consortium service organizations are eligible to receive from the General Appropriations Act; requiring each regional consortium service organization to submit an annual report to the Department of Education; requiring that unexpended amounts in certain funds be carried forward; requiring each regional consortium service organization to provide quarterly financial reports to member districts; requiring member districts to designate a district to serve as a fiscal agent for certain purposes; providing for compensation of the fiscal agent district; requiring regional consortium service organizations to retain all funds received from grants or contracted services to cover indirect or administrative costs associated with the provision of such services; requiring the regional consortium service organization board of directors to determine products and services provided by the organization; requiring a regional consortium service organization board of directors to recommend the establishment of positions and appointments to a fiscal agent district; requiring that personnel be employed under specified personnel policies; authorizing the regional consortium service organization board of directors to recommend a salary schedule for personnel; authorizing regional consortium service organizations to purchase or lease property and facilities essential to their operations; providing for the distribution of revenue if a regional consortium service organization is dissolved; deleting a provision requiring applications for incentive grants; authorizing regional consortium service organization boards of directors to contract to provide services to nonmember districts; requiring that a fund balance be established for specified purposes; deleting a requirement for the use of certain funds; authorizing a regional consortium service organization to administer a specified program; creating s. 1001.4511, F.S.; creating the Regional Consortia Service Organization Supplemental Services Program; providing the purpose of the program; authorizing funds to be used for specified purposes; requiring each regional consortium service organization to report the distribution of funds annually to the Legislature; providing for the carryforward of funds; providing appropriations; creating s. 1009.635, F.S.; establishing the Rural Incentive for Professional Educators Program within the Department of Education; requiring the program to provide financial assistance for the repayment of student loans to eligible participants who establish permanent residency and employment in rural communities; providing that eligible participants may receive up to a certain amount in total student loan repayment assistance over a certain timeframe; requiring the department to verify certain information of participants in the program before it disburses awards; providing that the program is administered through the Office of Student Financial Assistance within the department; requiring the department to develop procedures and monitor compliance; requiring the State Board of Education to adopt rules by a certain date; amending s. 1013.62, F.S.; revising the calculation methodology to determine the amount of revenue that a school district must distribute to each eligible charter school; amending s. 1013.64, F.S.; revising conditions under which a school district may receive funding on an approved construction project; providing appropriations for specified purposes; amending ss. 163.3187, 212.205, 257.191, 257.193, 265.283, 288.11621, 288.11631, 443.191, 571.26, and 571.265, F.S.; conforming cross-references and provisions to changes made by the act; reenacting s. 288.9935(8), F.S., relating to the Microfinance Guarantee Program, to incorporate the amendment made to s. 20.60, F.S., in a reference thereto; reenacting ss. 125.0104(5)(c), 193.624(3), 196.182(2), 218.12(1), 218.125(1), 218.135(1), 218.136(1), 252.35(2)(cc), 288.102(4), 403.064(16)(g), 589.08(2) and (3), and 1011.62(1)(f), F.S., relating to authorized uses of tourist development tax; applicability of assessments of renewable energy source devices; application of exemptions of renewable energy source devices; appropriations to offset reductions in ad valorem tax revenue in fiscally constrained counties; offset for tax loss associated with certain constitutional amendments affecting fiscally constrained counties; offset for tax loss associated with reductions in value of certain citrus fruit packing and processing equipment; offset for ad valorem revenue loss affecting fiscally constrained counties; Division of Emergency Management powers; one-to-one match requirement under the Supply Chain Innovation Grant Program; applicability of provisions related to reuse of reclaimed water; land acquisition restrictions; and funds for operation of schools, respectively, to incorporate the amendment made to s. 218.67, F.S., in references thereto; reenacting s. 403.0741(6)(c), F.S., relating to grease waste removal and disposal, to incorporate the amendments made to ss. 218.67 and 339.2818, F.S., in references thereto; reenacting s. 163.3177(7)(e), F.S., relating to required and optional elements of comprehensive plans and studies and surveys, to incorporate the amendment made to s. 288.0656, F.S., in a reference thereto; reenacting s. 288.9962(7)(a), F.S., relating to the Broadband Opportunity Program, to incorporate the amendment made to s. 288.9961, F.S., in a reference thereto; reenacting s. 215.211(1), F.S., relating to service charges and elimination or reduction for specified proceeds, to incorporate the amendment made to s. 319.32, F.S., in a reference thereto; reenacting s. 339.66(5) and (6), F.S., relating to upgrades of arterial highways with controlled access facilities, to incorporate the amendment made to s. 339.68, F.S., in references thereto; reenacting ss. 420.9072(4) and (6), 420.9076(7)(b), and 420.9079(2), F.S., relating to the State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program, adoption of affordable housing incentive strategies and committees, and the Local Government Housing Trust Fund, respectively, to incorporate the amendment made to s. 420.9073, F.S., in references thereto; providing an effective date.

Committee Categories

Corey Simon (R)*, 

Other Sponsors (1)

In Messages (on 04/30/2025)

Official Document