Senate Bill 2639

AN ACT TO CREATE SEPARATE SPECIAL FUNDS IN THE STATE TREASURY FOR EACH OF THE TEN PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS AND A SPECIAL FUND TO BE DESIGNATED AS THE "GULF COAST RESTORATION FUND"; TO PROVIDE THAT THE MONIES IN EACH OF THE TEN SPECIAL FUNDS SHALL BE ADMINISTERED BY THE RESPECTIVE BOARDS OF DIRECTORS OF THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS, AND THE MONIES IN THE GULF COAST RESTORATION FUND SHALL BE ADMINISTERED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE GULF COAST RESTORATION FUND; TO PROVIDE THAT THE MONIES IN THE SPECIAL FUNDS SHALL BE USED, UPON APPROPRIATION BY THE LEGISLATURE, TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO APPLICANTS FOR PROJECTS AUTHORIZED BY THIS ACT; TO ESTABLISH A BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE GULF COAST RESTORATION FUND, WHICH WILL SERVE AS THE ADMINISTERING BODY FOR THE FUND; TO PROVIDE FOR THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES; TO PROVIDE THAT THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS AND THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE FUND SHALL ESTABLISH CRITERIA, RULES AND PROCEDURES FOR ACCEPTING, REVIEWING AND GRANTING OR DENYING APPLICATIONS FOR ASSISTANCE UNDER THIS ACT; TO SPECIFY THE APPLICANTS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR ASSISTANCE UNDER THIS ACT; TO PROVIDE THAT APPLICATIONS FOR ASSISTANCE UNDER THIS ACT WILL BE RECEIVED THROUGH WEB PORTALS SET UP BY THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS AND THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE FUND; TO PROVIDE THAT THE APPLICATIONS SHALL BE REVIEWED, EVALUATED AND SCORED BY THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS AND THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE FUND, AND THEN PRESENTED TO THE LEGISLATIVE ADVISORY COMMITTEES FOR THEIR EVALUATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS; TO ESTABLISH LEGISLATIVE ADVISORY COMMITTEES FOR EACH OF THE TEN PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS AND FOR THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE FUND, WHICH WILL SERVE ONLY IN AN ADVISORY CAPACITY IN REVIEWING AND EVALUATING APPLICATIONS FOR ASSISTANCE UNDER THIS ACT; TO AUTHORIZE THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS AND THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE FUND TO MAKE LOANS, LOAN GUARANTEES, GRANTS AND ANY OTHER FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE UNDER THIS ACT TO APPLICANTS WHOSE PROJECTS ARE APPROVED FOR ASSISTANCE BY THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS AND THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE FUND; TO DIRECT THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS AND THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE FUND TO ESTABLISH AN APPLICATION PROCEDURE FOR ASSISTANCE UNDER THIS ACT AND A SCORING PROCESS FOR THE SELECTION OF PROJECTS THAT HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO GENERATE INCREASED ECONOMIC ACTIVITY IN THE COUNTIES INVOLVED, AND TO SPECIFY THE TYPES OF PROJECTS FOR WHICH ASSISTANCE MAY BE MADE; TO PROVIDE FOR FINANCIAL AUDITS AND OPERATIONAL AUDITS OF RECIPIENTS OF ASSISTANCE UNDER THIS ACT; TO DIRECT THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS AND THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE FUND TO FILE AN ANNUAL REPORT WITH THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE THAT INCLUDES DETAILED INFORMATION REGARDING RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES OF THE FUNDS RECEIVED AND PROVIDED AS ASSISTANCE UNDER THIS ACT; TO PROVIDE THAT FOR THE PURPOSES OF ADMINISTERING THE FUNDS RECEIVED, EXPENDED AND PROVIDED AS ASSISTANCE UNDER THIS ACT, THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS AND THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE FUND SHALL BE CONSIDERED TO BE PUBLIC BODIES AND PUBLIC ENTITIES, AND SHALL BE SUBJECT TO ALL APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF STATE LAW APPLICABLE TO PUBLIC BODIES AND PUBLIC ENTITIES WITH REGARD TO THE FUNDS RECEIVED, EXPENDED AND PROVIDED AS ASSISTANCE UNDER THIS ACT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

In the Senate

• Michael Watson

  Sponsor

l9n doesn't hold this bill's text yet.

In the Senate Jan 15 – Jan 30

1. Jan 15Referred to the Senate committee on Appropriations
2. Jan 30Died in committee in the Senate