The bill CS for SB 110 First Engrossed seeks to enhance support for rural communities in Florida through the establishment of the Office of Rural Prosperity within the Department of Commerce. This office will oversee various initiatives, including the Renaissance Grants Program and the Public Infrastructure Smart Technology Grant Program, aimed at promoting economic growth and improving living conditions in rural areas. The bill mandates that local governments in these regions receive preference for technical assistance funding and requires the state land planning agency to consult with the Office of Rural Prosperity when awarding certain funds. Additionally, it revises the distribution of sales and use tax revenue to include transfers to fiscally constrained counties and outlines the responsibilities of the Office of Economic and Demographic Research and the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA) in reporting on rural community development.

Furthermore, the bill introduces new funding mechanisms to improve infrastructure and healthcare access in rural areas, including the Florida Arterial Road Modernization Program and the Rural Access to Primary and Preventive Care Grant Program. It also expands eligibility for the Florida Reimbursement Assistance for Medical Education Program to include emergency medicine practitioners in rural hospitals and establishes the Rural Incentive for Professional Educators Program to assist educators working in these communities. The legislation emphasizes the importance of financial support for rural areas, including provisions for waiving matching requirements for grants and ensuring that funds are allocated for public safety and infrastructure needs. Overall, the bill aims to strengthen the financial framework for local governments in rural and economically constrained areas, ensuring they can maintain essential services and foster economic development.

Statutes affected:
S 110 Filed: 202.18, 212.20, 215.971, 218.67, 288.007, 288.019, 288.065, 319.32, 339.0801, 395.6061, 420.9073, 420.9075, 1013.62, 1013.64, 163.3187, 212.205, 257.191, 257.193, 265.283, 443.191, 571.26, 571.265
S 110 c1: 202.18, 212.20, 215.971, 218.67, 288.007, 288.019, 288.065, 288.1226, 319.32, 339.0801, 339.2817, 339.68, 395.6061, 420.9073, 420.9075, 1013.62, 1013.64, 163.3187, 212.205, 257.191, 265.283, 443.191, 571.26, 571.265
S 110 e1: 202.18, 212.20, 215.971, 218.67, 288.007, 288.019, 288.065, 288.1226, 319.32, 339.0801, 339.2817, 339.68, 395.6061, 420.9073, 420.9075, 1013.62, 1013.64, 163.3187, 212.205, 257.191, 257.193, 265.283, 443.191, 571.26, 571.265