Bill > S0722

This bill revises the state excise tax rate on aviation fuel from 6.9 cents to 5.4 cents per gallon, and also modifies the criteria for licensed wholesalers or terminal suppliers to receive a credit or refund of this tax for aviation fuel delivered to air carriers. Previously, the exemption was tied to significant job creation and capital investment by air carriers offering transcontinental jet service, but now it will be awarded to one of the three air carriers demonstrating the greatest growth in a state fiscal year, based on factors like new jobs created at or above the state's average prevailing wage, total capital investment, new routes established, and ticket sales. Additionally, the bill mandates that the Department of Economic Opportunity conduct a study on intrastate commercial air service and flight training, analyzing trends, pricing, flight frequency, and comparing Florida's incentives to those of other states, with a report due by November 13, 2015.