Bill > H0721

This bill allows a professional sports franchise facility that has already been certified for state funding to receive an additional certification under specific circumstances, enabling it to receive a monthly distribution of $166,667 from sales tax revenues (taxes collected under chapter 212, Florida Statutes, on the sale of goods and services) to help pay for acquiring, constructing, reconstructing, or renovating the facility. To qualify for this additional certification, the facility must have planned improvements costing at least $80 million, the professional sports franchise must have existed for at least 15 years, the facility's use agreement must have at least 15 years remaining, and an independent analysis must show that the facility generates at least $4 million annually in sales tax revenues. Additionally, an engineering firm must have provided a study detailing recommended renovations and their costs, and the facility must be located in a county where the county government has been consolidated with one or more municipalities. The state agency responsible for this certification (the department) can only certify one applicant under this new provision.