Bill > S0964

This bill modifies existing Florida law regarding specialty license plates to include Major League Soccer (MLS) teams domiciled in the state, alongside existing professional sports leagues like Major League Baseball (MLB), National Basketball Association (NBA), National Football League (NFL), Arena Football, and National Hockey League (NHL). It mandates that any new professional sports team license plates created after January 1, 2017, must meet specific requirements and receive explicit legislative authorization. The bill also clarifies how the annual use fees collected from these specialty plates are distributed: 55% will go to the Professional Sports Development Trust Fund within the Department of Economic Opportunity to attract and support major sports events, defined to include MLS championship or all-star contests, and the remaining proceeds will be allocated to Enterprise Florida, Inc., for promoting the sports industry, distributing licensing and royalty fees to participating professional sports leagues (a change from "teams"), funding educational programs on physical activity, supporting school fitness initiatives, providing grants for communities bidding on minor sporting events, and distributing funds to designated Florida-based charities. Enterprise Florida, Inc., is also required to provide an annual financial audit of its accounts.