Bill Text: FL S1664 | 2023 | Regular Session | Comm Sub
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Economic Programs
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (? 3-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-05-03 - Laid on Table, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/CS/HB 5 (Ch. 2023-173), HB 5303 (Ch. 2023-246), CS/HB 7041 (Ch. 2023-200), CS/SB 106 (Ch. 2023-20) [S1664 Detail]
Download: Florida-2023-S1664-Comm_Sub.html
Bill Title: Economic Programs
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (? 3-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-05-03 - Laid on Table, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/CS/HB 5 (Ch. 2023-173), HB 5303 (Ch. 2023-246), CS/HB 7041 (Ch. 2023-200), CS/SB 106 (Ch. 2023-20) [S1664 Detail]
Download: Florida-2023-S1664-Comm_Sub.html
Florida Senate - 2023 CS for SB 1664 By the Committee on Commerce and Tourism; and Senator Hooper 577-03139A-23 20231664c1 1 A bill to be entitled 2 An act relating to economic development; amending s. 3 20.60, F.S.; requiring the Secretary of Economic 4 Opportunity to appoint deputy secretaries and 5 directors for specified divisions of the Department of 6 Economic Opportunity; amending s. 163.3175, F.S.; 7 revising the list of local governments affected by 8 Naval Support Activity Orlando; conforming a provision 9 to changes made by the act; amending s. 201.25, F.S.; 10 exempting loans made with funds administered by the 11 Department of Economic Opportunity from certain taxes; 12 amending s. 288.018, F.S.; revising requirements 13 relating to the Florida Rural Development Grants 14 Program; amending s. 288.065, F.S.; removing a 15 requirement that certain repayments under the Rural 16 Community Development Revolving Loan Fund be matched; 17 amending s. 288.0655, F.S.; revising grant 18 requirements and authorizations relating to the Rural 19 Infrastructure Fund; revising limits on grant awards; 20 amending s. 288.075, F.S.; revising the definition of 21 the term “economic development agency”; amending s. 22 288.8017, F.S.; specifying that the term “public 23 infrastructure projects” includes projects for 24 workforce housing; conforming provisions to changes 25 made by the act; amending s. 288.9604, F.S.; deleting 26 the future repeal of provisions governing the Florida 27 Development Finance Corporation; amending ss. 288.980 28 and 288.985, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes 29 made by the act; amending s. 288.987, F.S.; renaming 30 the Florida Defense Support Task Force as the Florida 31 Defense Support Council; amending s. 446.71, F.S.; 32 revising requirements relating to the Everglades 33 Restoration Agricultural Community Employment Training 34 Program; defining terms; authorizing, rather than 35 requiring, the department to adopt rules; amending s. 36 695.03, F.S.; requiring the Secretary of the 37 Department of Economic Opportunity, rather than the 38 Governor, to appoint certain commissioners of deeds; 39 reenacting s. 288.106(2)(b), F.S., relating to the tax 40 refund program for qualified target industry 41 businesses, to incorporate the amendment made to s. 42 288.075, F.S., in a reference thereto; providing an 43 effective date. 44 45 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 46 47 Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of section 48 20.60, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 49 20.60 Department of Economic Opportunity; creation; powers 50 and duties.— 51 (3) 52 (b) The secretary: 53 1. May create offices within the Office of the Secretary 54 and within the divisions established in paragraph (a) to promote 55 efficient and effective operation of the department. 56 2. Shall appoint deputy secretaries for the Division of 57 Strategic Business Development, the Division of Community 58 Development, and the Division of Workforce Services and 59 directors for the Division of Finance and Administration and the 60 Division of Information Technologya director for each division, 61 who shall directly administer his or her division and be 62 responsible to the secretary. 63 Section 2. Paragraph (i) of subsection (2) and subsection 64 (3) of section 163.3175, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 65 163.3175 Legislative findings on compatibility of 66 development with military installations; exchange of information 67 between local governments and military installations.— 68 (2) Certain major military installations, due to their 69 mission and activities, have a greater potential for 70 experiencing compatibility and coordination issues than others. 71 Consequently, this section and the provisions in s. 72 163.3177(6)(a), relating to compatibility of land development 73 with military installations, apply to specific affected local 74 governments in proximity to and in association with specific 75 military installations, as follows: 76 (i) Naval Support Activity Orlando, including Bugg Spring 77 and Naval Ordnance Test Unit, associated with Lake, Marion, 78 Orange, and Sumter Counties and Groveland, Howey-in-the-Hills, 79 Leesburg,County andOrlando, and Wildwood. 80 (3) The Florida Defense Support CouncilTask Forcemay 81 recommend to the Legislature changes to the military 82 installations and local governments specified in subsection (2) 83 based on a military base’s potential for impacts from 84 encroachment, and incompatible land uses and development. 85 Section 3. Subsection (4) is added to section 201.25, 86 Florida Statutes, to read: 87 201.25 Tax exemptions for certain loans.—There shall be 88 exempt from all taxes imposed by this chapter: 89 (4) Any loan made with funds administered by the Department 90 of Economic Opportunity. 91 Section 4. Paragraphs (b), (c), and (d) of subsection (1) 92 and paragraphs (b) and (c) of subsection (2) of section 288.018, 93 Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 94 288.018 Regional Rural Development Grants Program.— 95 (1) 96 (b) The department shall establish amatchinggrant program 97 to provide funding to regional economic development 98 organizations for the purpose of building the professional 99 capacity of those organizations. Building the professional 100 capacity of a regional economic development organization 101 includes hiring professional staff to develop, deliver, and 102 provide needed economic development professional services, 103 including technical assistance, education and leadership 104 development, marketing, and project recruitment.MatchingGrants 105 may also be used by a regional economic development organization 106 to provide technical assistance to local governments, local 107 economic development organizations, and existing and prospective 108 businesses. 109 (c) A regional economic development organization may apply 110 annually to the department for amatchinggrant. The department 111 is authorized to approve, on an annual basis, grants to such 112 regional economic development organizations. The maximum amount 113 an organization may receive in any year will be $50,000, or 114 $250,000 for any three regional economic development 115 organizations that serve an entire region of a rural area of 116 opportunity designated pursuant to s. 288.0656(7) if they are 117 recognized by the department as serving such a region. 118(d) Grant funds received by a regional economic development119organization must be matched each year by nonstate resources in120an amount equal to 25 percent of the state contribution.121 (2) In approving the participants, the department shall 122 consider the demonstrated need of the applicant for assistance 123 and require the following: 124(b) Demonstration that each unit of local government has125made a financial or in-kind commitment to the regional126organization.127(c) Demonstration that the private sector has made128financial or in-kind commitments to the regional organization.129 Section 5. Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section 130 288.065, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 131 288.065 Rural Community Development Revolving Loan Fund.— 132 (2) 133 (c) All repayments of principal and interest shall be 134 returned to the loan fund and made available for loans to other 135 applicants. However, in a rural area of opportunity designated 136 by the Governor, and upon approval by the department, repayments 137 of principal and interest may be retained by the applicant if 138 such repayments are dedicatedand matchedto fund regionally 139 based economic development organizations representing the rural 140 area of opportunity. 141 Section 6. Subsection (1), paragraphs (b), (c), and (e) of 142 subsection (2), and subsection (3) of section 288.0655, Florida 143 Statutes, are amended to read: 144 288.0655 Rural Infrastructure Fund.— 145 (1) There is created within the department the Rural 146 Infrastructure Fund to facilitate the planning, preparing, and 147 financing of infrastructureprojectsin rural communities which 148 will encourage job creation, capital investment, and the 149 strengthening and diversification of rural economies by 150 promoting tourism, trade, and economic development. 151 (2) 152 (b) To facilitate access of rural communities and rural 153 areas of opportunity as defined by the Rural Economic 154 Development Initiative to infrastructure funding programs of the 155 Federal Government, such as those offered by the United States 156 Department of Agriculture and the United States Department of 157 Commerce, and state programs, including those offered by Rural 158 Economic Development Initiative agencies, and to facilitate 159 local government or private infrastructure funding efforts, the 160 department may award grants for up to 7550percent of the total 161 infrastructureprojectcost or up to 100 percent of the total 162 infrastructure project cost for a project located in a rural 163 community or a rural area of opportunity as those terms are 164 defined in s. 288.0656(2) which is also located in a fiscally 165 constrained county as described in s. 218.67(1).Eligible166projects must be related to specific job-creation or job167retention opportunities.Eligible uses of fundsprojectsmay168alsoinclude improving any inadequate infrastructure that has 169 resulted in regulatory action that prohibits economic or 170 community growth, reducing the costs to community users of 171 proposed infrastructure improvements that exceed such costs in 172 comparable communities. Eligible uses of funds include, and173 improving access to and the availability of broadband Internet 174 service; however, the funds may not be used to serve any retail 175 end user that already has access to broadband Internet service. 176 Eligible uses of funds alsoshallinclude improvements to public 177 infrastructure for industrial or commercial sites, upgrades to 178 or development of public tourism infrastructure, and 179 improvements to broadband Internet service and access in 180 unserved or underserved rural communities; however, the funds 181 may not be used to serve any retail end user that already has 182 access to broadband Internet service. Improvements to broadband 183 Internet service and access must be conducted through a 184 partnership or partnerships with one or more dealers, as defined 185 in s. 202.11(2), and the partnership or partnerships must be 186 established through a competitive selection process that is 187 publicly noticed. Authorized infrastructure may include the 188 following public or public-private partnership facilities: storm 189 water systems; telecommunications facilities; broadband 190 facilities; roads or other remedies to transportation 191 impediments; nature-based tourism facilities; or other physical 192 requirements necessary to facilitate tourism, trade, and 193 economic development activities in the community. Authorized 194 infrastructure may also include publicly or privately owned 195 self-powered nature-based tourism facilities, publicly owned 196 telecommunications facilities, and broadband facilities, and 197 additions to the distribution facilities of the existing natural 198 gas utility as defined in s. 366.04(3)(c), the existing electric 199 utility as defined in s. 366.02, or the existing water or 200 wastewater utility as defined in s. 367.021(12), or any other 201 existing water or wastewater facility, which owns a gas or 202 electric distribution system or a water or wastewater system in 203 this state where: 204 1. A contribution-in-aid of construction is required to 205 serve public or public-private partnership facilities under the 206 tariffs of any natural gas, electric, water, or wastewater 207 utility as defined herein; and 208 2. Such utilities as defined herein are willing and able to 209 provide such service. 210 (c)To facilitate timely response and induce the location211or expansion of specific job creating opportunities,The 212 department may award grants of up to $300,000 for infrastructure 213 feasibility studies, design and engineering activities, or other 214 infrastructure planning and preparation activities.Authorized215grants shall be up to $50,000 for an employment project with a216business committed to create at least 100 jobs; up to $150,000217for an employment project with a business committed to create at218least 300 jobs; and up to $300,000 for a project in a rural area219of opportunity.Grants awarded under this paragraph may be used 220 in conjunction with grants awarded under paragraph (b), provided221that the total amount of both grants does not exceed 30 percent222of the total project cost. In evaluating applications under this 223 paragraph, the department shall consider the extent to which the 224 application seeks to minimize administrative and consultant 225 expenses. 226 (e) To enable local governments to access the resources 227 available pursuant to s. 403.973(18), the department may award 228 grants for surveys, feasibility studies, and other activities 229 related to the identification and preclearance review of land 230 which is suitable for preclearance review. Authorized grants 231 under this paragraph do not require a local match andmay not232exceed $75,000 each, except in the case of a project in a rural233area of opportunity, in which case the grantmay not exceed 234 $300,000.Any funds awarded under this paragraph must be matched235at a level of 50 percent with local funds, except that any funds236awarded for a project in a rural area of opportunity must be237matched at a level of 33 percent with local funds. If an238application for funding is for a catalyst site, as defined in s.239288.0656, the requirement for local match may be waived pursuant240to the process in s. 288.06561.In evaluating applications under 241 this paragraph, the department shall consider the extent to 242 which the application seeks to minimize administrative and 243 consultant expenses. 244 (3) The department, in consultation with Enterprise 245 Florida, Inc., the Florida Tourism Industry Marketing 246 Corporation, the Department of Environmental Protection, and the 247 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, as 248 appropriate, shall review and certify applications pursuant to 249 s. 288.061. The review shall include an evaluation of the 250 economic benefitof the projectsandtheirlong-term viability. 251 The department shall have final approval for any grant under 252 this section. 253 Section 7. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section 254 288.075, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 255 288.075 Confidentiality of records.— 256 (1) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term: 257 (a) “Economic development agency” means: 258 1. The Department of Economic Opportunity; 259 2. Any industrial development authority created in 260 accordance with part III of chapter 159 or by special law; 261 3. Space Florida created in part II of chapter 331; 262 4. The public economic development agency of a county or 263 municipality or, if the county or municipality does not have a264public economic development agency,the county or municipal 265 officers or employees assigned the duty to promote the general 266 business interests or industrial interests of that county or 267 municipality or the responsibilities related thereto; 268 5. Any research and development authority created in 269 accordance with part V of chapter 159; or 270 6. Any private agency, person, partnership, corporation, or 271 business entity when authorized by the state, a municipality, or 272 a county to promote the general business interests or industrial 273 interests of the state or that municipality or county. 274 Section 8. Subsection (1) of section 288.8017, Florida 275 Statutes, is amended to read: 276 288.8017 Awards.— 277 (1) Triumph Gulf Coast, Inc., shall make awards from 278 available funds to projects or programs that meet the priorities 279 for economic recovery, diversification, and enhancement of the 280 disproportionately affected counties. Awards may be provided for 281 any of the following: 282 (a) Ad valorem tax rate reduction within disproportionately 283 affected counties.;284 (b) Local match requirementsof s.288.0655for projects in 285 the disproportionately affected counties.;286 (c) Public infrastructure projects for construction, 287 expansion, or maintenance which are shown to enhance economic 288 recovery, diversification, and enhancement of the 289 disproportionately affected counties. For the purposes of this 290 paragraph, the term “public infrastructure projects” includes 291 projects for workforce housing.;292 (d) Grants to local governments in the disproportionately 293 affected counties to establish and maintain equipment and 294 trained personnel for local action plans of response to respond 295 to disasters, such as plans created for the Coastal Impacts 296 Assistance Program.;297 (e) Grants to support programs that prepare students for 298 future occupations and careers at K-20 institutions that have 299 campuses in the disproportionately affected counties. Eligible 300 programs include those that increase students’ technology skills 301 and knowledge; encourage industry certifications; provide 302 rigorous, alternative pathways for students to meet high school 303 graduation requirements; strengthen career readiness 304 initiatives; fund high-demand programs of emphasis at the 305 bachelor’s and master’s level designated by the Board of 306 Governors; and, similar to or the same as talent retention 307 programs created by the Chancellor of the State University 308 System and the Commission of Education, encourage students with 309 interest or aptitude for science, technology, engineering, 310 mathematics, and medical disciplines to pursue postsecondary 311 education at a state university or a Florida College System 312 institution within the disproportionately affected counties.;313 (f) Grants to support programs that provide participants in 314 the disproportionately affected counties with transferable, 315 sustainable workforce skills that are not confined to a single 316 employer.; and317 (g) Grants to the tourism entity created under s. 288.1226 318 for the purpose of advertising and promoting tourism and Fresh 319 From Florida, and grants to promote workforce and 320 infrastructure, on behalf of all of the disproportionately 321 affected counties. 322 Section 9. Subsection (5) of section 288.9604, Florida 323 Statutes, is amended to read: 324 288.9604 Creation of the corporation.— 325(5) This section is repealed July 1, 2023, and July 1 of326every fourth year thereafter, unless reviewed and saved from327repeal by the Legislature.328 Section 10. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section 329 288.980, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 330 288.980 Military base retention; legislative intent; grants 331 program.— 332 (2) 333 (b)1. The department shall annually request military 334 installations in the state to provide the department with a list 335 of base buffering encroachment lands for fee simple or less 336 than-fee simple acquisitions before October 1. 337 2. The department shall submit the list of base buffering 338 encroachment lands to the Florida Defense Support CouncilTask339Forcecreated in s. 288.987. 340 3. The Florida Defense Support CouncilTask Forceshall, 341 annually by December 1, review the list of base buffering 342 encroachment lands submitted by the military installations and 343 provide its recommendations for ranking the lands for 344 acquisition to the department. 345 4. The department shall annually submit the list of base 346 buffering encroachment lands provided by the Florida Defense 347 Support CouncilTask Forceto the Board of Trustees of the 348 Internal Improvement Trust Fund, which may acquire the lands 349 pursuant to s. 253.025. At a minimum, the annual list must 350 contain for each recommended land acquisition: 351 a. A legal description of the land and its property 352 identification number; 353 b. A detailed map of the land; and 354 c. A management and monitoring agreement to ensure the land 355 serves a base buffering purpose. 356 Section 11. Subsection (1) and paragraph (a) of subsection 357 (2) of section 288.985, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 358 288.985 Exemptions from public records and public meetings 359 requirements.— 360 (1) The following records held by the Florida Defense 361 Support CouncilTask Forceare exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s. 362 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution: 363 (a) That portion of a record which relates to strengths and 364 weaknesses of military installations or military missions in 365 this state relative to the selection criteria for the 366 realignment and closure of military bases and missions under any 367 United States Department of Defense base realignment and closure 368 process. 369 (b) That portion of a record which relates to strengths and 370 weaknesses of military installations or military missions in 371 other states or territories and the vulnerability of such 372 installations or missions to base realignment or closure under 373 the United States Department of Defense base realignment and 374 closure process, and any agreements or proposals to relocate or 375 realign military units and missions from other states or 376 territories. 377 (c) That portion of a record which relates to the state’s 378 strategy to retain its military bases during any United States 379 Department of Defense base realignment and closure process and 380 any agreements or proposals to relocate or realign military 381 units and missions. 382 (2)(a) Meetings or portions of meetings of the Florida 383 Defense Support CouncilTask Force, or a workgroup of the 384 counciltaskforce, at which records are presented or discussed 385 that are exempt under subsection (1) are exempt from s. 286.011 386 and s. 24(b), Art. I of the State Constitution. 387 Section 12. Section 288.987, Florida Statutes, is amended 388 to read: 389 288.987 Florida Defense Support CouncilTask Force.— 390 (1) The Florida Defense Support CouncilTask Forceis 391 created. 392 (2) The mission of the counciltask forceis to make 393 recommendations to preserve and protect military installations 394 to support the state’s position in research and development 395 related to or arising out of military missions and contracting, 396 and to improve the state’s military-friendly environment for 397 servicemembers, military dependents, military retirees, and 398 businesses that bring military and base-related jobs to the 399 state. 400 (3) The counciltask forceshall be comprised of the 401 Governor or his or her designee, and 12 members appointed as 402 follows: 403 (a) Four members appointed by the Governor. 404 (b) Four members appointed by the President of the Senate. 405 (c) Four members appointed by the Speaker of the House of 406 Representatives. 407 (d) Appointed members must represent defense-related 408 industries or communities that host military bases and 409 installations. All appointments must be made by August 1, 2011. 410 Members shall serve for a term of 4 years, with the first term 411 ending July 1, 2015. However, if members of the Legislature are 412 appointed to the counciltask force, those members shall serve 413 until the expiration of their legislative term and may be 414 reappointed once. A vacancy shall be filled for the remainder of 415 the unexpired term in the same manner as the initial 416 appointment. All members of the council are eligible for 417 reappointment. A member who serves in the Legislature may 418 participate in all counciltask forceactivities but may only 419 vote on matters that are advisory. 420 (4) The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the 421 House of Representatives shall each designate one of their 422 appointees to serve as chair of the counciltask force. The 423 chair shall rotate each July 1. The appointee designated by the 424 President of the Senate shall serve as initial chair. If the 425 Governor, instead of his or her designee, participates in the 426 activities of the counciltask force, then the Governor shall 427 serve as chair. 428 (5) The Secretary of Economic Opportunity, or his or her 429 designee, shall serve as the ex officio, nonvoting executive 430 director of the counciltask force. 431 (6) The counciltask forceshall submit an annual progress 432 report and work plan to the Governor, the President of the 433 Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives each 434 February 1. 435 (7) The department shall contract with the counciltask436forcefor expenditure of appropriated funds, which may be used 437 by the counciltask forcefor economic and product research and 438 development, joint planning with host communities to accommodate 439 military missions and prevent base encroachment, advocacy on the 440 state’s behalf with federal civilian and military officials, 441 assistance to school districts in providing a smooth transition 442 for large numbers of additional military-related students, job 443 training and placement for military spouses in communities with 444 high proportions of active duty military personnel, and 445 promotion of the state to military and related contractors and 446 employers. The counciltask forcemay annually spend up to 447 $250,000 of funds appropriated to the department for the council 448task forcefor staffing and administrative expenses of the 449 counciltask force, including travel and per diem costs incurred 450 by counciltask forcemembers who are not otherwise eligible for 451 state reimbursement. 452 Section 13. Section 446.71, Florida Statutes, is amended to 453 read: 454 446.71 Everglades Restoration Agricultural Community 455 Employment Training Program.— 456 (1)The Department of Economic Opportunity, in cooperation457with the state board as defined in s. 445.002, shall establish458the Everglades Restoration Agricultural Community Employment459Training Program within the Department of Economic Opportunity.460The Department of Economic Opportunity shall use funds461appropriated to the program by the Legislature to provide grants462to stimulate and support training and employment programs that463seek to match persons who complete such training programs to464nonagricultural employment opportunities in areas of high465agricultural unemployment, and to provide other training,466educational, and information services necessary to stimulate the467creation of jobs in the areas of high agricultural unemployment.468In determining whether to provide funds to a particular program,469the Department of Economic Opportunity shall consider the470location of the program in proximity to the program’s intended471participants.472(2)The Legislature supports projects that improve the 473 economy in the Everglades Agricultural Area. In recognition of 474 the employment opportunities and economic development generated 475 by new and expanding industries in the area, such as the 476 Airglades Airport in Hendry County and the development of an 477 inland port in Palm Beach County, the Legislature finds that 478 training the citizens of the state to fill the needs of these 479 industries significantly enhances the economic viability of the 480 region. 481 (2) As used in this section, the term: 482 (a) “Department” means the Department of Economic 483 Opportunity. 484 (b) “Employer-based training program” means a program 485 established by, or to be established by, a business in this 486 state that provides training for in-demand nonagricultural 487 occupations for its employees. 488 (c) “Everglades Agricultural Area” has the same meaning as 489 in s. 373.4592(15). 490 (d) “Institution-based training program” means a 491 certificate program or other program of study provided by a 492 public or private university, college, or technical or 493 vocational training institution which provides training for in 494 demand nonagricultural occupations. 495 (e) “Program” means the Everglades Restoration Agricultural 496 Community Employment Training Program. 497 (3) The department, in cooperation with the state board as 498 defined in s. 445.002, shall establish the Everglades 499 Restoration Agricultural Community Employment Training Program. 500 The department shall use funds appropriated to the program by 501 the Legislature to provide grants to stimulate and support 502 employer-based training programs and institution-based training 503 programs that seek to match persons who complete such training 504 programs to nonagricultural employment opportunities in the 505 Everglades Agricultural Area and any rural area of opportunity 506 as defined in s. 288.0656(2), which includes DeSoto, Glades, 507 Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, and Okeechobee Counties and the 508 cities of Belle Glade, Immokalee, Pahokee, and South Bay. The 509 department shall use program funds to provide training, 510 educational, and information services necessary to stimulate the 511 creation of jobs in the Everglades Agricultural Area and in any 512 rural area of opportunity as defined in s. 288.0656(2), which 513 includes DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, and 514 Okeechobee Counties and the cities of Belle Glade, Immokalee, 515 Pahokee, and South Bay. In determining whether to provide funds 516 to a particular employer-based training program or institution 517 based training program, the department must consider the 518 location of such training program in proximity to the program’s 519 intended participants. 520 (4) Program funds may be used to providefor grants for521 tuition for institution-based trainingpublic or private522technical or vocationalprograms. Program funds may also be used 523 forandmatching grants to employers to conduct employer-based 524 training programs. Funds may be used,orfor the purchase of 525 equipment necessaryto be usedfor training purposes, the hiring 526 of instructors, or any other purpose directly associated with 527 the employer-based training programs or institution-based 528 training programs. For the first 6 months of each fiscal year, 529 the department shall set aside up to 50 percent of the funds 530 appropriated to the program by the Legislature to fund employer 531 based training programs. At the end of the 6-month period, any 532 unused funds from the set-aside funds may be used to provide 533 funding for institution-based training programsprogram. 534 (5)(4)The departmentof Economic Opportunitymay not award 535 a grant to any employer-basedgiventraining program if the 536 grantwhichexceeds 50 percent of the total cost of the program. 537 If, unlessthe employer-based training program is located within 538 a rural area of opportunity, the department may award a grant of 539in which case the grant may exceed 50 percent of the total cost540of the program andup to 100 percent of program costs. Employer 541 matching contributions may include in-kind services, including, 542 but not limited to, the provision of training instructors, 543 equipment, and training facilities. The department must 544 prioritize grants to employer-based training programs that are 545 located in the Everglades Agricultural Area or in any rural area 546 of opportunity as defined in s. 288.0656(2), which includes 547 DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, and Okeechobee 548 Counties and the cities of Belle Glade, Immokalee, Pahokee, and 549 South Bay. 550 (6)(5)Before awarding a grant pursuant togranting a551request for funds made in accordance withthis section, the 552 departmentof Economic Opportunityshall enter into a grant 553 agreement with the employer orrequester of funds and the554 institution receiving funding through the program. Such 555 agreement must include all of the following information: 556 (a) An identification of the personnel necessary to conduct 557 the instructional program, the qualifications of such personnel, 558 and the respective responsibilities of the parties for paying 559 costs associated with the employment of such personnel. 560 (b) An identification of the estimated length of the 561 instructional program. 562 (c) An identification of all direct, training-related 563 costs, including tuition and fees, curriculum development, books 564 and classroom materials, and overhead or indirect costs. 565 (d) An identification of special program requirements that 566 are not otherwise addressed in the agreement. 567 (7)(6)The departmentof Economic Opportunitymay grant up 568 to 100 percent of the tuition for an institution-baseda569 training program participant who currently resides, and has 570 resided for the preceding 12 monthsat least 3 of the 5571immediately preceding years, within the Everglades Agricultural 572 Area or in any rural area of opportunity as defined in s. 573 288.0656(2), which includes DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, 574 Highlands, and Okeechobee Counties and the cities of Belle 575 Glade, Immokalee, Pahokee, and South Bay,as described in s.576373.4592 and in countiesthat providesprovidefor water storage 577 and dispersed water storagethat are located in rural areas of578opportunity as described in s. 288.0656. 579 (8)(7)Employer-based training programs established in the 580 Everglades Agricultural Area or in any rural area of opportunity 581 as defined in s. 288.0656(2), which includes DeSoto, Glades, 582 Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, and Okeechobee Counties and the 583 cities of Belle Glade, Immokalee, Pahokee, and South Bay, must 584 include opportunities to obtain the qualifications and skills 585 necessary for jobs related to federal and state restoration 586 projects, the Airglades Airport in Hendry County, an inland port 587 in Palm Beach County, or other industries with a verifiable, 588 demonstrated interest in operating within the Everglades 589 Agricultural Area or in any rural area of opportunity as defined 590 in s. 288.0656(2), which includes DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, 591 Hendry, Highlands, and Okeechobee Counties and the cities of 592 Belle Glade, Immokalee, Pahokee, and South Bay,and in counties593 that providesprovidefor water storage and dispersed water 594 storagethat are located in rural areas of opportunity as595described in s. 288.0656. 596 (9)(8)The department mayof Economic Opportunity shall597 adopt rules to implement this section. 598 Section 14. Subsections (2) and (3) of section 695.03, 599 Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 600 695.03 Acknowledgment and proof; validation of certain 601 acknowledgments; legalization or authentication before foreign 602 officials.—To entitle any instrument concerning real property to 603 be recorded, the execution must be acknowledged by the party 604 executing it, proved by a subscribing witness to it, or 605 legalized or authenticated in one of the following forms: 606 (2) OUTSIDE THIS STATE BUT WITHIN THE UNITED STATES.—An 607 acknowledgment or a proof taken, administered, or made outside 608 of this state but within the United States may be taken, 609 administered, or made by or before a civil-law notary of this 610 state or a commissioner of deeds appointed by the Secretary of 611 the Department of Economic OpportunityGovernor of this state; a 612 judge or clerk of any court of the United States or of any 613 state, territory, or district; by or before a United States 614 commissioner or magistrate; or by or before any notary public, 615 justice of the peace, master in chancery, or registrar or 616 recorder of deeds of any state, territory, or district having a 617 seal, and the certificate of acknowledgment or proof must be 618 under the seal of the court or officer, as the case may be. If 619 the acknowledgment or proof is taken, administered, or made by 620 or before a notary public who does not affix a seal, it is 621 sufficient for the notary public to type, print, or write by 622 hand on the instrument, “I am a Notary Public of the State of 623 ...(state)..., and my commission expires on ...(date)....” 624 (3) OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES OR WITHIN FOREIGN 625 COUNTRIES.—An acknowledgment, an affidavit, an oath, a 626 legalization, an authentication, or a proof taken, administered, 627 or made outside the United States or in a foreign country may be 628 taken, administered, or made by or before a commissioner of 629 deeds appointed by the Secretary of the Department of Economic 630 OpportunityGovernor of this stateto act in such country; 631 before a notary public of such foreign country or a civil-law 632 notary of this state or of such foreign country who has an 633 official seal; before an ambassador, envoy extraordinary, 634 minister plenipotentiary, minister, commissioner, charge 635 d’affaires, consul general, consul, vice consul, consular agent, 636 or other diplomatic or consular officer of the United States 637 appointed to reside in such country; or before a military or 638 naval officer authorized by 10 U.S.C. s. 1044a to perform the 639 duties of notary public, and the certificate of acknowledgment, 640 legalization, authentication, or proof must be under the seal of 641 the officer. A certificate legalizing or authenticating the 642 signature of a person executing an instrument concerning real 643 property and to which a civil-law notary or notary public of 644 that country has affixed her or his official seal is sufficient 645 as an acknowledgment. For the purposes of this section, the term 646 “civil-law notary” means a civil-law notary as defined in 647 chapter 118 or an official of a foreign country who has an 648 official seal and who is authorized to make legal or lawful the 649 execution of any document in that jurisdiction, in which 650 jurisdiction the affixing of her or his official seal is deemed 651 proof of the execution of the document or deed in full 652 compliance with the laws of that jurisdiction. 653 Section 15. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment 654 made by this act to section 288.075, Florida Statutes, in a 655 reference thereto, paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section 656 288.106, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read: 657 288.106 Tax refund program for qualified target industry 658 businesses.— 659 (2) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section: 660 (b) “Authorized local economic development agency” means a 661 public or private entity, including an entity defined in s. 662 288.075, authorized by a county or municipality to promote the 663 general business or industrial interests of that county or 664 municipality. 665 Section 16. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023.