(1) The Economic Development Trust Fund is created within the Department of Economic Opportunity. Moneys deposited into the fund must be used only to support the authorized activities and operations of the department.

(2) There is created, within the Economic Development Trust Fund, the Economic Development Incentives Account. The Economic Development Incentives Account consists of moneys appropriated to the account for purposes of the tax incentives programs authorized under ss. 288.1045 and 288.106, and local financial support provided under ss. 288.1045 and 288.106. Moneys in the Economic Development Incentives Account shall be subject to the provisions of s. 216.301(1)(a).

(3)(a) The department may approve applications for certification pursuant to ss. 288.1045(3) and 288.106. However, the total state share of tax refund payments may not exceed $35 million.

(b) The total amount of tax refund claims approved for payment by the department based on actual project performance may not exceed the amount appropriated to the Economic Development Incentives Account for such purposes for the fiscal year. Claims for tax refunds under ss. 288.1045 and 288.106 shall be paid in the order the claims are approved by the department. In the event the Legislature does not appropriate an amount sufficient to satisfy the tax refunds under ss. 288.1045 and 288.106 in a fiscal year, the department shall pay the tax refunds from the appropriation for the following fiscal year. By March 1 of each year, the department shall notify the legislative appropriations committees of the Senate and House of Representatives of any anticipated shortfall in the amount of funds needed to satisfy claims for tax refunds from the appropriation for the current fiscal year.

(c) Moneys in the Economic Development Incentives Account may be used only to pay tax refunds and make other payments authorized under s. 288.1045, s. 288.106, or s. 288.107.

(d) The department may adopt rules necessary to carry out the provisions of this subsection, including rules providing for the use of moneys in the Economic Development Incentives Account and for the administration of the Economic Development Incentives Account.

History.—s. 5, ch. 92-111; ss. 4, 7, ch. 93-414; ss. 15, 75, ch. 94-136; s. 43, ch. 96-320; s. 10, ch. 97-277; s. 12, ch. 97-278; s. 25, ch. 99-251; s. 41, ch. 2001-201; s. 2, ch. 2002-392; s. 2, ch. 2005-66; s. 1, ch. 2005-276; s. 19, ch. 2011-142; s. 15, ch. 2013-39; s. 15, ch. 2013-42.