FL H7095

Creates the Sports Development Program (s. 288.11625, F.S.) requiring the Department of Economic Opportunity to screen, evaluate, and rank applicants seeking state sales tax distributions for constructing, reconstructing, renovating, or improving professional sports facilities, with legislative approval required before funding is awarded and annual distributions capped at $7 million in FY 2014-2015 and $13 million thereafter.

Establishes tiered annual distribution limits based on total project cost: up to $3 million for projects of $200 million or more, up to $2 million for projects between $100 million and $200 million, and up to $1 million for projects between $30 million and $100 million, with distributions based on 75 percent of average annual new incremental state sales taxes generated at the facility.

Increases monthly state distributions for spring training franchise facilities under s. 288.11631 from $55,555 to $83,333 for single-franchise facilities and from $111,110 to $166,667 for multi-franchise facilities, while reducing the distribution period from 30 years to 20 years for single-franchise and 25 years for multi-franchise facilities, with distributions beginning 60 days after certification or July 1, 2016, whichever is later.

Increases the annual cap on county use of local government half-cent sales tax revenues for professional sports purposes from $2 million to $3 million, and authorizes municipalities and counties to use half-cent sales tax revenues to reimburse the state as required under the new Sports Development Program.

Requires beneficiaries to reimburse the state plus a 5 percent penalty if they relocate or break agreement terms, mandates Florida tourism advertising within facilities, designates state-funded professional sports facilities as homeless shelter sites during declared emergencies (with exceptions), and requires a program evaluation beginning January 1, 2018, and every 3 years thereafter.