"Jobs for Florida" Legislation Moves to Senate Floor

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 18, 2010

 

CONTACT:

Chris Clark 850-487-5009

 

 

"Jobs for Florida" Legislation Moves to Senate Floor

 Revitalizes businesses, encourages job creation, and strengthens Florida's economy

 

Tallahassee – The Senate Ways and Means Committee today passed "Jobs for Florida", a 14-point economic development package to strengthen Florida's economy and encourage job growth.  Senate Bill 1752 is sponsored by Senator Don Gaetz (R-Niceville), Senator Jeremy Ring (D-Margate) and members of the Senate Select Committee on Florida's Economy. 

 

"With over one million Floridians experiencing the pain of unemployment, we must remove unnecessary disincentives and regulatory burdens that impede job growth," said Senate President Jeff Atwater (R-North Palm Beach).  "This legislation sends a strong signal to employers that are here and those considering relocation that Florida is open for business and ready to compete."

 

"Jobs for Florida" is the product of hearings held in Tallahassee and around the state to listen to Floridians engaged in job creation as well as ideas gathered at a jobs summit hosted by Senate President-designate Mike Haridopolos and Speaker-designate Dean Cannon.  The Select Committee also conducted a "gap analysis" of effective job development policies in other states compared to Florida.

 

"Government only creates government jobs," said Gaetz, who chairs the Select Committee. "This package of solutions promotes private sector job creation and makes our state more competitive to keep and attract businesses that generate economic activity."

 

With record unemployment rates, strengthening Florida's economy, revitalizing businesses, and creating an environment of success is a priority for the Florida Senate.  SB 1752 is structured to remove barriers to economic growth, provide targeted incentives to Florida businesses, and provide Florida a pathway for long-term success in the global market economy.

 

"Florida's long-term success is dependent upon growing existing industry, attracting outside businesses and encouraging entrepreneurship to thrive,"  said Senator Ring, the Select Committee's vice chair.  "This bill is an important first step to building the strong knowledge-based and diverse economy our state needs to bring high-wage jobs to Florida."

 

SB 1752 creates greater transparency, encourages job creation and capital investments, removes unnecessary regulatory barriers, and diversifies Florida's economy by:

 

• Removing tax disincentives that drive boat and aircraft purchases and maintenance out of the state
• Creating a tax credit for small and large businesses that hire unemployed Floridians
• Accelerating tax credits for capital-intensive industries in return for adding new, high-paying jobs
• Improving competitiveness of Florida ports by granting tax credits in return for job creation
• Commercializing research done in Florida universities and by Florida companies through a combination of state and federal grants
• Doubling the state's film incentive to include digital media companies producing long-term jobs in Florida
• Supporting the space industry with financing for new and expanded space-related businesses, re-training workers now engaged in the Shuttle program and funding flexibility for Space Florida
• Disposing of state-owned, non-conservation lands with proceeds used for job creation and economic development
• Incenting Florida-based manufacturers to invest in machinery and equipment over the next two years
• Re-authorizing the Qualified Target Industry Incentive to link tax refunds with the number of jobs created, wages paid and location of businesses
• Establishing the State University Research Commercialization Grant Program, a source of seed capital to take to market products developed by publically sponsored research
• Requiring greater transparency and "return on investment" results in the use of economic development funds
• Making Florida more competitive by reducing the amount of time consumed by government in processing permits
• Delegating authority to local governments to avoid duplicative and triplicative regulatory reviews at the state level
• Helping first-time home buyers by extending the Florida Homebuyer Opportunity Program

 

The Senate Select Committee on Florida's Economy was created by President Atwater to propose legislation that will create incentives and eliminate impediments to economic recovery and growth.  It also works to identify and develop policies that will cause government to function more simply, more transparently, less expensively and more effectively.

 

 

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For more information about this or any other issue, please contact Senator Don Gaetz, by e-mail at gaetz.don.web@flsenate.gov, by letter, 4300 Legendary Drive, Suite 230, Destin, FL 32541or call 1-866-450-4DON toll free from anywhere in Florida.

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