Florida 2024 Regular Session

Florida House Bill H0609 Compare Versions

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1010 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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1414 A bill to be entitled 1
1515 An act relating to local business taxes; amending s. 2
1616 11.40, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by 3
1717 the act; amending s. 11.45, F.S.; requiring the 4
1818 Auditor General to contact certain local governments; 5
1919 requiring such local government provide specifi ed 6
2020 evidence within a certain time period; requiring 7
2121 notification to the Legislative Auditing Committee in 8
2222 specified circumstances; amending s. 205.0315, F.S.; 9
2323 authorizing specified entities to continue to levy a 10
2424 certain tax; prohibiting the repeal or modif ication of 11
2525 certain ordinances beginning a date certain; providing 12
2626 an exception; amending ss. 205.033 and 205.043, F.S.; 13
2727 revising the conditions imposed on taxing authorities 14
2828 governing the levy of a specified tax; amending s. 15
2929 205.0535, F.S.; providing defin itions; prohibiting 16
3030 reclassification of businesses subject to a specified 17
3131 tax rate; prohibiting the revenue generated from a 18
3232 certain tax from exceeding a specified value; 19
3333 requiring specified actions be taken in event of a 20
3434 violation of such prohibition; pro viding 21
3535 applicability; amending s. 205.0536, F.S.; conforming 22
3636 provisions to changes made by the act; amending s. 23
3737 205.046, F.S.; requiring a specified document be filed 24
3838 with a certain audit; providing requirements for such 25
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4747 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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5151 document; amending ss. 215.97, 218. 32, and 489.537, 26
5252 F.S.; conforming a cross -reference; providing an 27
5353 effective date. 28
5454 29
5555 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 30
5656 31
5757 Section 1. Subsection (2) of section 11.40, Florida 32
5858 Statutes, is amended to read: 33
5959 11.40 Legislative Audi ting Committee.— 34
6060 (2) Following notification by the Auditor General, the 35
6161 Department of Financial Services, the Division of Bond Finance 36
6262 of the State Board of Administration, the Governor or his or her 37
6363 designee, or the Commissioner of Education or his or h er 38
6464 designee of the failure of a local governmental entity, district 39
6565 school board, charter school, or charter technical career center 40
6666 to comply with the applicable provisions within s. 11.45(5) -(7), 41
6767 s. 205.0535, s. 218.32(1), s. 218.38, or s. 218.503(3), th e 42
6868 Legislative Auditing Committee may schedule a hearing to 43
6969 determine if the entity should be subject to further state 44
7070 action. If the committee determines that the entity should be 45
7171 subject to further state action, the committee shall: 46
7272 (a) In the case of a local governmental entity or district 47
7373 school board, direct the Department of Revenue and the 48
7474 Department of Financial Services to withhold any funds not 49
7575 pledged for bond debt service satisfaction which are payable to 50
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8484 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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8888 such entity until the entity complies w ith the law. The 51
8989 committee shall specify the date that such action must begin, 52
9090 and the directive must be received by the Department of Revenue 53
9191 and the Department of Financial Services 30 days before the date 54
9292 of the distribution mandated by law. The Departm ent of Revenue 55
9393 and the Department of Financial Services may implement this 56
9494 paragraph. 57
9595 (b) In the case of a special district created by: 58
9696 1. A special act, notify the President of the Senate, the 59
9797 Speaker of the House of Representatives, the standing comm ittees 60
9898 of the Senate and the House of Representatives charged with 61
9999 special district oversight as determined by the presiding 62
100100 officers of each respective chamber, the legislators who 63
101101 represent a portion of the geographical jurisdiction of the 64
102102 special district, and the Department of Economic Opportunity 65
103103 that the special district has failed to comply with the law. 66
104104 Upon receipt of notification, the Department of Economic 67
105105 Opportunity shall proceed pursuant to s. 189.062 or s. 189.067. 68
106106 If the special district rem ains in noncompliance after the 69
107107 process set forth in s. 189.0651, or if a public hearing is not 70
108108 held, the Legislative Auditing Committee may request the 71
109109 department to proceed pursuant to s. 189.067(3). 72
110110 2. A local ordinance, notify the chair or equivalent of 73
111111 the local general-purpose government pursuant to s. 189.0652 and 74
112112 the Department of Economic Opportunity that the special district 75
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121121 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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125125 has failed to comply with the law. Upon receipt of notification, 76
126126 the department shall proceed pursuant to s. 189.062 or s. 77
127127 189.067. If the special district remains in noncompliance after 78
128128 the process set forth in s. 189.0652, or if a public hearing is 79
129129 not held, the Legislative Auditing Committee may request the 80
130130 department to proceed pursuant to s. 189.067(3). 81
131131 3. Any manner other than a special act or local ordinance, 82
132132 notify the Department of Economic Opportunity that the special 83
133133 district has failed to comply with the law. Upon receipt of 84
134134 notification, the department shall proceed pursuant to s. 85
135135 189.062 or s. 189.067(3). 86
136136 (c) In the case of a charter school or charter technical 87
137137 career center, notify the appropriate sponsoring entity, which 88
138138 may terminate the charter pursuant to ss. 1002.33 and 1002.34. 89
139139 Section 2. Paragraphs (d) through (j) of subsection (7) of 90
140140 section 11.45, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as paragraphs 91
141141 (e) through (k), respectively, and a new paragraph (d) is added 92
142142 to that subsection, to read: 93
143143 11.45 Definitions; duties; authorities; reports; rules. — 94
144144 (7) AUDITOR GENERAL REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. — 95
145145 (d) During the Auditor General's review of audit reports, 96
146146 he or she shall contact each local government which is not in 97
147147 compliance with s. 205.0535, and request evidence of corrective 98
148148 action. The local government shall provide the Auditor General 99
149149 with evidence of the initiation of corrective action within 45 100
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158158 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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162162 days after the date the corrective action is requested by the 101
163163 Auditor General and evidence of completion of corrective action 102
164164 within 180 days after the date the corrective action is 103
165165 requested by the Auditor General. If the local government fails 104
166166 to comply with the Auditor General's request or is unable to 105
167167 take corrective action within the required timeframe, the 106
168168 Auditor General shall notify the Legislative Auditing Committee. 107
169169 Section 3. Section 205. 0315, Florida Statutes, is amended 108
170170 to read: 109
171171 205.0315 Ordinance adopted before adoption after October 110
172172 1, 2024 1995.—Beginning October 1, 2024 1995, a county or 111
173173 municipality that has not adopted a business tax ordinance or 112
174174 resolution under this chapter bef ore July 1, 2024, may not 113
175175 increase or otherwise modify the tax rate structure or 114
176176 classification in such adopt a business tax ordinance , except as 115
177177 provided in s. 205.0535. However, . the business tax rate 116
178178 structure and classifications in the adopted ordinanc e may be 117
179179 repealed must be reasonable and based upon the rate structure 118
180180 and classifications prescribed in ordinances adopted by adjacent 119
181181 local governments that have implemented s. 205.0535. If no 120
182182 adjacent local government has implemented s. 205.0535, or if the 121
183183 governing body of the county or municipality finds that the rate 122
184184 structures or classifications of adjacent local governments are 123
185185 unreasonable, the rate structure or classifications prescribed 124
186186 in its ordinance may be based upon those prescribed in 125
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195195 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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199199 ordinances adopted by local governments that have implemented s. 126
200200 205.0535 in counties or municipalities that have a comparable 127
201201 population. 128
202202 Section 4. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1), subsections 129
203203 (4) and (5), and paragraph (a) of subsection (6) of section 130
204204 205.033, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 131
205205 205.033 Conditions for levy; counties. — 132
206206 (1) The following conditions are imposed on the authority 133
207207 of a county governing body to levy a business tax: 134
208208 (b) Unless the county implements s. 205.0535 or adopts a 135
209209 new business tax ordinance under s. 205.0315, A business tax 136
210210 levied under this subsection may not exceed the rate provided by 137
211211 this chapter in effect for the year beginning October 1, 2023 138
212212 1971; however, beginning October 1, 2024 1980, the county 139
213213 governing body must decrease may increase business taxes 140
214214 authorized by this chapter as provided in s. 205.0535 . The 141
215215 amount of the increase above the tax rate levied on October 1, 142
216216 1971, for taxes levied at a flat rate may be up to 100 percent 143
217217 for business taxes tha t are $100 or less; 50 percent for 144
218218 business taxes that are between $101 and $300; and 25 percent 145
219219 for business taxes that are more than $300. Beginning October 1, 146
220220 1982, the increase may not exceed 25 percent for taxes levied at 147
221221 graduated or per unit rates. Authority to increase business 148
222222 taxes does not apply to licenses or receipts granted to any 149
223223 utility franchised by the county for which a franchise fee is 150
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232232 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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236236 paid. 151
237237 (4) The revenues derived from the business tax, exclusive 152
238238 of the costs of collection and any cr edit given for municipal 153
239239 business taxes, shall be apportioned between the unincorporated 154
240240 area of the county and the incorporated municipalities located 155
241241 therein by a ratio derived by dividing their respective 156
242242 populations by the population of the county. Thi s subsection 157
243243 does not apply to counties that have established a new rate 158
244244 structure under s. 205.0535 before October 1, 2024 . 159
245245 (5) The revenues so apportioned shall be sent to the 160
246246 governing authority of each municipality, according to its 161
247247 ratio, and to the governing authority of the county, according 162
248248 to the ratio of the unincorporated area, within 15 days 163
249249 following the month of receipt. This subsection does not apply 164
250250 to counties that have established a new rate structure under s. 165
251251 205.0535 before October 1, 2024. 166
252252 (6)(a) Each county, as defined in s. 125.011(1), or any 167
253253 county adjacent thereto may levy and collect, by an ordinance 168
254254 enacted by the governing body of the county, an additional 169
255255 business tax up to 50 percent of the appropriate business tax 170
256256 imposed under subsection (1); however, beginning October 1, 171
257257 2024, such business tax must be decreased as provided in s. 172
258258 205.0535. 173
259259 Section 5. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section 174
260260 205.043, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 175
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269269 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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273273 205.043 Conditions for levy; municipalities.— 176
274274 (1) The following conditions are imposed on the authority 177
275275 of a municipal governing body to levy a business tax: 178
276276 (b) Unless the municipality implements s. 205.0535 or 179
277277 adopts a new business tax ordinance under s. 205.0315, A 180
278278 business tax levied under this subsection may not exceed the 181
279279 rate in effect in the municipality for the year beginning 182
280280 October 1, 2023. 1971; however, Beginning October 1, 2024 1980, 183
281281 the municipal governing body must decrease may increase business 184
282282 taxes authorized by this chapter as provided in s. 205.0535 . The 185
283283 amount of the increase above the tax rate levied on October 1, 186
284284 1971, for taxes levied at a flat rate may be up to 100 percent 187
285285 for business taxes that are $100 or less; 50 percent fo r 188
286286 business taxes that are between $101 and $300; and 25 percent 189
287287 for business taxes that are more than $300. Beginning October 1, 190
288288 1982, an increase may not exceed 25 percent for taxes levied at 191
289289 graduated or per unit rates. Authority to increase business 192
290290 taxes does not apply to receipts or licenses granted to any 193
291291 utility franchised by the municipality for which a franchise fee 194
292292 is paid. 195
293293 Section 6. Section 205.0535, Florida Statutes, is amended 196
294294 to read: 197
295295 205.0535 Reclassification and rate structure revisio ns.— 198
296296 (1) As used in this section, the term: 199
297297 (a) "Recalculated tax rate" means the tax rate that, if it 200
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306306 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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310310 had been applied in the immediate prior fiscal year, would 201
311311 result in the maximum total revenue that does not exceed the 202
312312 revenue base. 203
313313 (b) "Revenue base" means the total revenue for the fiscal 204
314-year ending September 30, 2023, or for the fiscal year ending 205
315-September 30, 2024, whichever is greater 206
316- (c) "Total revenue" means: 207
317- 1. For a county, the total annual revenue generated by 208
318-receipts issued in th e fiscal year, less any revenue distributed 209
319-to municipalities under s. 205.033(4) in such year, and less any 210
320-revenue refunded to businesses pursuant to sub -211
321-subparagraph(4)(a)3.b. in such year. 212
322- 2. For a municipality, the total annual revenue generated 213
323-by receipts issued in the fiscal year plus any revenue received 214
324-from the county under s. 205.033(4) in such fiscal year, and 215
325-less any revenue refunded to businesses pursuant to sub -216
326-subparagraph(4)(a)3.b. in such year. 217
327- (2)(1) Beginning by October 1, 2024 2008, any municipality 218
328-that has adopted by ordinance a local business tax after October 219
329-1, 1995, may not by ordinance reclassify businesses, 220
330-professions, and occupations or and may establish new rate 221
331-structures, if the conditions specified in subsections (2) and 222
332-(3) are met. A person who is engaged in the business of 223
333-providing local exchange telephone service or a pay telephone 224
334-service in a municipality or in the unincorporated area of a 225
314+year ending September 30, 2024. 205
315+ (c) "Total revenue" means: 206
316+ 1. For a county, the total annual revenue generated by 207
317+receipts issued in the fiscal year, less any revenue distributed 208
318+to municipalities under s. 205.033(4) in such year, and less any 209
319+revenue refunded to businesses pursuant to sub -210
320+subparagraph(4)(a)3.b. in such year. 211
321+ 2. For a municipality, the total annual revenue generated 212
322+by receipts issued in the fiscal year plus any revenue received 213
323+from the county under s. 205.033(4) in such fiscal year, and 214
324+less any revenue refunded to businesses pursuant to sub -215
325+subparagraph(4)(a)3.b. in such year. 216
326+ (2)(1) Beginning by October 1, 2024 2008, any municipality 217
327+that has adopted by ordinance a local business tax after October 218
328+1, 1995, may not by ordinance reclassify businesses, 219
329+professions, and occupations or and may establish new rate 220
330+structures, if the conditions specified in subsections (2) and 221
331+(3) are met. A person who is engaged in the business of 222
332+providing local exchange telephone service or a pay telephone 223
333+service in a municipality or in the unincorporated area of a 224
334+county and who pays the business tax under the category 225
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343343 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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347-county and who pays the business tax under the category 226
348-designated for telephone companies or a pay telephone service 227
349-provider certified pursuant to s. 364.3375 is deemed to have but 228
350-one place of business or business location in each municipality 229
351-or unincorporated area of a county. Pay telephone service 230
352-providers may not be ass essed a business tax on a per -instrument 231
353-basis. 232
354- (3) Beginning October 1, 2024, the total revenue generated 233
355-by the business tax each fiscal year may not exceed the revenue 234
356-base. 235
357- (4)(a) Beginning October 1, 2025, if the total revenue 236
358-received by a local government from the local business tax in 237
359-the immediate prior fiscal year exceeds the revenue base: 238
360- 1. The governing authority must adopt an ordinance to 239
361-proportionally adjust the rates of the local business taxes 240
362-levied under this chapter for the curre nt fiscal year to the 241
363-recalculated tax rate. 242
364- 2. The rate adjustment ordinance must be adopted as soon 243
365-as practicable, but no later than January 1 of the current 244
366-fiscal year. 245
367- 3. By February 1, the county or municipality must issue a 246
368-refund to each busin ess that paid the local business tax: 247
369- a. In the prior fiscal year. Such refund shall be the 248
370-difference between the amount paid and the amount that would 249
371-have been paid if the recalculated tax rate had been used. 250
347+designated for telephone companies or a pay telephone service 226
348+provider certified pursuan t to s. 364.3375 is deemed to have but 227
349+one place of business or business location in each municipality 228
350+or unincorporated area of a county. Pay telephone service 229
351+providers may not be assessed a business tax on a per -instrument 230
352+basis. 231
353+ (3) Beginning October 1, 2024, the total revenue generated 232
354+by the business tax each fiscal year may not exceed the revenue 233
355+base. 234
356+ (4)(a) Beginning October 1, 2025, if the total revenue 235
357+received by a local government from the local business tax in 236
358+the immediate prior fiscal y ear exceeds the revenue base: 237
359+ 1. The governing authority must adopt an ordinance to 238
360+proportionally adjust the rates of the local business taxes 239
361+levied under this chapter for the current fiscal year to the 240
362+recalculated tax rate. 241
363+ 2. The rate adjustment o rdinance must be adopted as soon 242
364+as practicable, but no later than January 1 of the current 243
365+fiscal year. 244
366+ 3. By February 1, the county or municipality must issue a 245
367+refund to each business that paid the local business tax: 246
368+ a. In the prior fiscal year. Su ch refund shall be the 247
369+difference between the amount paid and the amount that would 248
370+have been paid if the recalculated tax rate had been used. 249
371+ b. At the unreduced rate in the current fiscal year. Such 250
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380380 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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384- b. At the unreduced rate in the current fiscal year. Such 251
385-refund shall be the difference in the amount paid and the amount 252
386-due if the recalculated tax rate had been used. 253
387- (b) A refund issued under subparagraph (a)3. may be 254
388-granted as a credit against tax due in the next fiscal year. 255
389- (c) If the county or municipality is unable to grant a 256
390-refund pursuant to subparagraph (a)3. because a business no 257
391-longer exists, or the county or municipality is unable to locate 258
392-the business or deliver such refund after making reasonable 259
393-efforts to do so, then s uch refund shall be treated by the 260
394-county or municipality as unclaimed property under chapter 717. 261
395- (2) Before adopting a reclassification and revision 262
396-ordinance, the municipality or county must establish an equity 263
397-study commission and appoint its members . Each member of the 264
398-study commission must be a representative of the business 265
399-community within the local government's jurisdiction. Each 266
400-equity study commission shall recommend to the appropriate local 267
401-government a classification system and rate structure for 268
402-business taxes. 269
403- (3)(a) After the reclassification and rate structure 270
404-revisions have been transmitted to and considered by the 271
405-appropriate local governing body, it may adopt by majority vote 272
406-a new business tax ordinance. Except that a minimum tax of up to 273
407-$25 is permitted, the reclassification may not increase the tax 274
408-by more than the following: for receipts costing $150 or less, 275
384+refund shall the difference in the amount paid and the amount 251
385+due if the recalculated tax rate had been used. 252
386+ (b) A refund issued under subparagraph (a)3. may be 253
387+granted as a credit against tax due in the next fiscal year. 254
388+ (c) If the county or municipality is unable to grant a 255
389+refund pursuant to subpar agraph (a)3. because a business no 256
390+longer exists, or the county or municipality is unable to locate 257
391+the business or deliver such refund after making reasonable 258
392+efforts to do so, then such refund shall be treated by the 259
393+county or municipality as unclaimed p roperty under chapter 717. 260
394+ (2) Before adopting a reclassification and revision 261
395+ordinance, the municipality or county must establish an equity 262
396+study commission and appoint its members. Each member of the 263
397+study commission must be a representative of the bu siness 264
398+community within the local government's jurisdiction. Each 265
399+equity study commission shall recommend to the appropriate local 266
400+government a classification system and rate structure for 267
401+business taxes. 268
402+ (3)(a) After the reclassification and rate struct ure 269
403+revisions have been transmitted to and considered by the 270
404+appropriate local governing body, it may adopt by majority vote 271
405+a new business tax ordinance. Except that a minimum tax of up to 272
406+$25 is permitted, the reclassification may not increase the tax 273
407+by more than the following: for receipts costing $150 or less, 274
408+200 percent; for receipts costing more than $150 but not more 275
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421-200 percent; for receipts costing more than $150 but not more 276
422-than $500, 100 percent; for receipts costing more than $500 b ut 277
423-not more than $2,500, 75 percent; for receipts costing more than 278
424-$2,500 but not more than $10,000, 50 percent; and for receipts 279
425-costing more than $10,000, 10 percent; however, in no case may 280
426-the tax on any receipt be increased more than $5,000. 281
427- (b) The total annual revenue generated by the new rate 282
428-structure for the fiscal year following the fiscal year during 283
429-which the rate structure is adopted may not exceed: 284
430- 1. For municipalities, the sum of the revenue base and 10 285
431-percent of that revenue base. Th e revenue base is the sum of the 286
432-business tax revenue generated by receipts issued for the most 287
433-recently completed local fiscal year or the amount of revenue 288
434-that would have been generated from the authorized increases 289
435-under s. 205.043(1)(b), whichever is greater, plus any revenue 290
436-received from the county under s. 205.033(4). 291
437- 2. For counties, the sum of the revenue base, 10 percent 292
438-of that revenue base, and the amount of revenue distributed by 293
439-the county to the municipalities under s. 205.033(4) during th e 294
440-most recently completed local fiscal year. The revenue base is 295
441-the business tax revenue generated by receipts issued for the 296
442-most recently completed local fiscal year or the amount of 297
443-revenue that would have been generated from the authorized 298
444-increases under s. 205.033(1)(b), whichever is greater, but may 299
445-not include any revenues distributed to municipalities under s. 300
421+than $500, 100 percent; for receipts costing more than $500 but 276
422+not more than $2,500, 75 percent; for receipts costing more than 277
423+$2,500 but not more than $10,000, 50 percent; and for receipts 278
424+costing more than $10,000, 10 percent; however, in no case may 279
425+the tax on any receipt be increased more than $5,000. 280
426+ (b) The total annual revenue generated by the new rate 281
427+structure for the fisca l year following the fiscal year during 282
428+which the rate structure is adopted may not exceed: 283
429+ 1. For municipalities, the sum of the revenue base and 10 284
430+percent of that revenue base. The revenue base is the sum of the 285
431+business tax revenue generated by recei pts issued for the most 286
432+recently completed local fiscal year or the amount of revenue 287
433+that would have been generated from the authorized increases 288
434+under s. 205.043(1)(b), whichever is greater, plus any revenue 289
435+received from the county under s. 205.033(4). 290
436+ 2. For counties, the sum of the revenue base, 10 percent 291
437+of that revenue base, and the amount of revenue distributed by 292
438+the county to the municipalities under s. 205.033(4) during the 293
439+most recently completed local fiscal year. The revenue base is 294
440+the business tax revenue generated by receipts issued for the 295
441+most recently completed local fiscal year or the amount of 296
442+revenue that would have been generated from the authorized 297
443+increases under s. 205.033(1)(b), whichever is greater, but may 298
444+not include any revenues distributed to municipalities under s. 299
445+205.033(4). 300
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454454 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
455455
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457457
458-205.033(4). 301
459- (c) In addition to the revenue increases authorized by 302
460-paragraph (b), revenue increases attributed to the increases in 303
461-the number of receipts issued are authorized. 304
462- (4) After the conditions specified in subsections (2) and 305
463-(3) are met, municipalities and counties may, every other year 306
464-thereafter, increase or decrease by ordinance the rates of 307
465-business taxes by up to 5 percent. However, an increase must be 308
466-enacted by at least a majority plus one vote of the governing 309
467-body. 310
468- (5) This chapter does not prohibit a municipality or 311
469-county from decreasing or repealing any business tax authorized 312
470-under this chapter. By majority vote, t he governing body of a 313
471-county or municipality may adopt an ordinance repealing a local 314
472-business tax or establishing new rates that decrease local 315
473-business taxes, provided that the new rates do not produce 316
474-revenues in excess of the revenue base and do not result in an 317
475-increase in local business taxes for a taxpayer. Such ordinances 318
476-are not subject to subsections (2) and (3) . 319
477- (6) A receipt may not be issued unless the federal 320
478-employer identification number or social security number is 321
479-obtained from the pers on to be taxed. 322
480- (7) This section does not apply to: 323
481- (a) A municipality that imposes a business tax on 324
482-merchants which is measured by gross receipts from the sale of 325
458+ (c) In addition to the revenue increases authorized by 301
459+paragraph (b), revenue increases attributed to the increases in 302
460+the number of receipts issued are authorized. 303
461+ (4) After the conditions speci fied in subsections (2) and 304
462+(3) are met, municipalities and counties may, every other year 305
463+thereafter, increase or decrease by ordinance the rates of 306
464+business taxes by up to 5 percent. However, an increase must be 307
465+enacted by at least a majority plus one vo te of the governing 308
466+body. 309
467+ (5) This chapter does not prohibit a municipality or 310
468+county from decreasing or repealing any business tax authorized 311
469+under this chapter. By majority vote, the governing body of a 312
470+county or municipality may adopt an ordinance rep ealing a local 313
471+business tax or establishing new rates that decrease local 314
472+business taxes, provided that the new rates do not produce 315
473+revenues in excess of the revenue base and do not result in an 316
474+increase in local business taxes for a taxpayer. Such ordina nces 317
475+are not subject to subsections (2) and (3) . 318
476+ (6) A receipt may not be issued unless the federal 319
477+employer identification number or social security number is 320
478+obtained from the person to be taxed. 321
479+ (7) This section does not apply to a municipality that 322
480+imposes a business tax on merchants which is measured by gross 323
481+receipts from the sale of merchandise or services, or both, as 324
482+described in s. 205.044. 325
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491491 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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495-merchandise or services, or both, as described in s. 205.044. 326
496- (b) A fiscally constrai ned county as defined in s. 327
497-218.67(1). 328
498- (c) A municipality located in a fiscally constrained 329
499-county as defined in s. 218.67(1). 330
500- Section 7. Section 205.0536, Florida Statutes, is amended 331
501-to read: 332
502- 205.0536 Distribution of county revenues. —A county that 333
503-established establishes a new rate structure under s. 205.0535 , 334
504-before October 1, 2024, shall retain all business tax revenues 335
505-collected from businesses, professions, or occupations whose 336
506-places of business are located within the unincorporated 337
507-portions of the county. Any business tax revenues collected by a 338
508-county that established establishes a new rate structure under 339
509-s. 205.0535, before October 1, 2024, from businesses, 340
510-professions, or occupations whose places of business are located 341
511-within a municipality, exclusive of the costs of collection, 342
512-must be apportioned between the unincorporated area of the 343
513-county and the incorporated municipalities located therein by a 344
514-ratio derived by dividing their respective populations by the 345
515-population of the county. As used in this section, the term 346
516-"population" means the latest official state estimate of 347
517-population certified under s. 186.901. The revenues so 348
518-apportioned shall be sent to the governing authority of each 349
519-municipality, according to its ratio, and to the governing 350
495+ Section 7. Section 205.0536, Florida Statutes, is amended 326
496+to read: 327
497+ 205.0536 Distribution of county revenues.—A county that 328
498+established establishes a new rate structure under s. 205.0535 , 329
499+before October 1, 2024, shall retain all business tax revenues 330
500+collected from businesses, professions, or occupations whose 331
501+places of business are located within the u nincorporated 332
502+portions of the county. Any business tax revenues collected by a 333
503+county that established establishes a new rate structure under 334
504+s. 205.0535, before October 1, 2024, from businesses, 335
505+professions, or occupations whose places of business are located 336
506+within a municipality, exclusive of the costs of collection, 337
507+must be apportioned between the unincorporated area of the 338
508+county and the incorporated municipalities located th erein by a 339
509+ratio derived by dividing their respective populations by the 340
510+population of the county. As used in this section, the term 341
511+"population" means the latest official state estimate of 342
512+population certified under s. 186.901. The revenues so 343
513+apportioned shall be sent to the governing authority of each 344
514+municipality, according to its ratio, and to the governing 345
515+authority of the county, according to the ratio of the 346
516+unincorporated area, within 15 days after the month of receipt. 347
517+ Section 8. Section 205.0 46, Florida Statutes, is created 348
518+to read: 349
519+ 205.046 Audits.—An audit of financial statements of a 350
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528528 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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532-authority of the county, according to the ratio of the 351
533-unincorporated area, withi n 15 days after the month of receipt. 352
534- Section 8. Section 205.046, Florida Statutes, is created 353
535-to read: 354
536- 205.046 Audits.—An audit of financial statements of a 355
537-local government which is performed by a certified public 356
538-accountant pursuant to s. 218.39 a nd submitted to the Auditor 357
539-General must be accompanied by an affidavit executed by the 358
540-chair of the governing board of the local government, as a 359
541-separate document, stating that the local government has 360
542-complied with the provisions of s. 205.0535 and must be filed 361
543-with the Auditor General or, in the event the local government 362
544-has not complied with s. 205.0535, the affidavit shall instead 363
545-include a description of the noncompliance and corrective action 364
546-taken by the local government to correct the noncomplia nce and 365
547-to prevent such noncompliance in the future. 366
548- Section 9. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section 367
549-215.97, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 368
550- 215.97 Florida Single Audit Act. 369
551- (2) As used in this section, the term: 370
552- (a) "Audit threshold " means the threshold amount used to 371
553-determine when a state single audit or project -specific audit of 372
554-a nonstate entity shall be conducted in accordance with this 373
555-section. Each nonstate entity that expends a total amount of 374
556-state financial assistance equal to or in excess of $750,000 in 375
532+local government which is performed by a certified public 351
533+accountant pursuant to s. 218.39 and submitted to the Auditor 352
534+General must be accompanied by an affi davit executed by the 353
535+chair of the governing board of the local government, as a 354
536+separate document, stating that the local government has 355
537+complied with the provisions of s. 205.0535 and must be filed 356
538+with the Auditor General or, in the event the local gove rnment 357
539+has not complied with s. 205.0535, the affidavit shall instead 358
540+include a description of the noncompliance and corrective action 359
541+taken by the local government to correct the noncompliance and 360
542+to prevent such noncompliance in the future. 361
543+ Section 9. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section 362
544+215.97, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 363
545+ 215.97 Florida Single Audit Act. 364
546+ (2) As used in this section, the term: 365
547+ (a) "Audit threshold" means the threshold amount used to 366
548+determine when a state single audit or project-specific audit of 367
549+a nonstate entity shall be conducted in accordance with this 368
550+section. Each nonstate entity that expends a total amount of 369
551+state financial assistance equal to or in excess of $750,000 in 370
552+any fiscal year of such nonstate e ntity shall be required to 371
553+have a state single audit or a project -specific audit for such 372
554+fiscal year in accordance with the requirements of this section. 373
555+After consulting with the Executive Office of the Governor, the 374
556+Department of Financial Services, and all state awarding 375
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565565 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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569-any fiscal year of such nonstate entity shall be required to 376
570-have a state single audit or a project -specific audit for such 377
571-fiscal year in accordance with the requirements of this section. 378
572-After consulting with the Executive Office of the Governor, the 379
573-Department of Financial Services, and all state awarding 380
574-agencies, the Auditor General shall periodically review the 381
575-threshold amount for requiring audits under this section and may 382
576-recommend any appropriate statutory change to revise the 383
577-threshold amount in the annual report submitted to the 384
578-Legislature pursuant to s. 11.45(7)(i) s. 11.45(7)(h). 385
579- Section 10. Paragraph (e) of subsection (1) of section 386
580-218.32, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 387
581- 218.32 Annual financial rep orts; local governmental 388
582-entities. 389
583- (1) 390
584- (e)1. Each local governmental entity that is not required 391
585-to provide for an audit under s. 218.39 must submit the annual 392
586-financial report to the department no later than 9 months after 393
587-the end of the fiscal year. The department shall consult with 394
588-the Auditor General in the development of the format of annual 395
589-financial reports submitted pursuant to this paragraph. The 396
590-format must include balance sheet information used by the 397
591-Auditor General pursuant to s. 11.45(7)(g) s. 11.45(7)(f). The 398
592-department must forward the financial information contained 399
593-within the annual financial reports to the Auditor General in 400
569+agencies, the Auditor General shall periodically review the 376
570+threshold amount for requiring audits under this section and may 377
571+recommend any appropriate statutory change to revise the 378
572+threshold amount in the annual report submitted to the 379
573+Legislature pursuant to s. 11.45(7)(i) s. 11.45(7)(h). 380
574+ Section 10. Paragraph (e) of subsection (1) of section 381
575+218.32, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 382
576+ 218.32 Annual financial reports; local governmental 383
577+entities.— 384
578+ (1) 385
579+ (e)1. Each local govern mental entity that is not required 386
580+to provide for an audit under s. 218.39 must submit the annual 387
581+financial report to the department no later than 9 months after 388
582+the end of the fiscal year. The department shall consult with 389
583+the Auditor General in the devel opment of the format of annual 390
584+financial reports submitted pursuant to this paragraph. The 391
585+format must include balance sheet information used by the 392
586+Auditor General pursuant to s. 11.45(7)(g) s. 11.45(7)(f). The 393
587+department must forward the financial inform ation contained 394
588+within the annual financial reports to the Auditor General in 395
589+electronic form. This paragraph does not apply to housing 396
590+authorities created under chapter 421. 397
591+ 2. The annual financial report filed by a dependent 398
592+special district or an inde pendent special district shall 399
593+specify separately: 400
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602602 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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606-electronic form. This paragraph does not apply to housing 401
607-authorities created under chapter 421. 402
608- 2. The annual financial report filed by a dependent 403
609-special district or an independent special district shall 404
610-specify separately: 405
611- a. The total number of district employees compensated in 406
612-the last pay period of the district's fiscal year being 407
613-reported. 408
614- b. The total number of independent contractors to whom 409
615-nonemployee compensation was paid in the last month of the 410
616-district's fiscal year being reported. 411
617- c. All compensation earned by or awarded to employees, 412
618-whether paid or accrued, regardless of contingency. 413
619- d. All compensation earned by or awarded to nonemployee 414
620-independent contractors, whether paid or accrued, regardless of 415
621-contingency. 416
622- e. Each construction project with a total cost of at least 417
623-$65,000 approved by the district that is scheduled to begin on 418
624-or after October 1 of the fiscal year being reported, together 419
625-with the total expenditures for such project. 420
626- 3. The annual financial report of a dependent special 421
627-district or an independent special district amending a final 422
628-adopted budget under s. 189.016(6 ) must include a budget 423
629-variance report based on the budget adopted under s. 189.016(4) 424
630-before the beginning of the fiscal year being reported. 425
606+ a. The total number of district employees compensated in 401
607+the last pay period of the district's fiscal year being 402
608+reported. 403
609+ b. The total number of independent contractors to whom 404
610+nonemployee compensatio n was paid in the last month of the 405
611+district's fiscal year being reported. 406
612+ c. All compensation earned by or awarded to employees, 407
613+whether paid or accrued, regardless of contingency. 408
614+ d. All compensation earned by or awarded to nonemployee 409
615+independent contractors, whether paid or accrued, regardless of 410
616+contingency. 411
617+ e. Each construction project with a total cost of at least 412
618+$65,000 approved by the district that is scheduled to begin on 413
619+or after October 1 of the fiscal year being reported, together 414
620+with the total expenditures for such project. 415
621+ 3. The annual financial report of a dependent special 416
622+district or an independent special district amending a final 417
623+adopted budget under s. 189.016(6) must include a budget 418
624+variance report based on the budget adop ted under s. 189.016(4) 419
625+before the beginning of the fiscal year being reported. 420
626+ 4. The annual financial report of an independent special 421
627+district that imposes ad valorem taxes shall include the millage 422
628+rate or rates imposed by the district, the total amo unt of ad 423
629+valorem taxes collected by or on behalf of the district, and the 424
630+total amount of outstanding bonds issued by the district and the 425
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639639 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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643- 4. The annual financial report of an independent special 426
644-district that imposes ad valorem taxes shall include the millage 427
645-rate or rates imposed by the district, the total amount of ad 428
646-valorem taxes collected by or on behalf of the district, and the 429
647-total amount of outstanding bonds issued by the district and the 430
648-terms of such bonds. 431
649- 5. The annual financial repor t of an independent special 432
650-district that imposes non -ad valorem special assessments shall 433
651-include the rate or rates of such assessments imposed by the 434
652-district, the total amount of special assessments collected by 435
653-or on behalf of the district, and the tot al amount of 436
654-outstanding bonds issued by the district and the terms of such 437
655-bonds. 438
656- Section 11. Subsection (8) of section 489.537, Florida 439
657-Statutes, is amended to read: 440
658- 489.537 Application of this part. — 441
659- (8) Persons licensed under this part are subj ect to ss. 442
660-205.0535(2) 205.0535(1) and 205.065, as applicable. 443
661- Section 12. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024. 444
643+terms of such bonds. 426
644+ 5. The annual financial report of an independent special 427
645+district that imposes non -ad valorem special assessments shall 428
646+include the rate or rates of such assessments imposed by the 429
647+district, the total amount of special assessments collected by 430
648+or on behalf of the district, and the total amount of 431
649+outstanding bonds issued by the district and the te rms of such 432
650+bonds. 433
651+ Section 11. Subsection (8) of section 489.537, Florida 434
652+Statutes, is amended to read: 435
653+ 489.537 Application of this part. — 436
654+ (8) Persons licensed under this part are subject to ss. 437
655+205.0535(2) 205.0535(1) and 205.065, as applicable. 438
656+ Section 12. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024. 439