F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
HB 41 2024
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to mortgage loans and insurance
3 payments grant program; creating s. 409.14653, F.S.;
4 creating within the Department of Commerce a grant
5 program for mortgage loans and homeowners' and motor
6 vehicle insurance payments for residents; providing
7 for the allocation of funds; requiring the program to
8 be administered by the department; providing
9 definitions; providing eligibility amounts; providing
10 duties of the department in administering the program;
11 requiring the department to adopt rules; providing an
12 effective date.
13
14 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
15
16 Section 1. Section 409.14653, Florida Statutes, is c reated
17 to read:
18 409.14653 Grant program for payments of mortgage loans and
19 homeowners' and motor vehicle insurance.—
20 (1) There is created within the Department of Commerce a
21 program to award grants to residents of the state to assist with
22 mortgage loans and homeowners' and motor vehicle insurance
23 payments. The Office of Insurance Regulation shall allocate
24 funds for the program, which shall be administered by the
25 department.
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26 (2) As used in this section, the term:
27 (a) "Department" means the Department of Commerce.
28 (b) "Resident" means a person who:
29 1. Has continuously resided in this state for 6 months
30 immediately before applying for the grant;
31 2. Is registered to vote in this state;
32 3. Has established a domicile in this state and evidenced
33 that domicile as provided in s. 222.17; or
34 4. Has filed for homestead tax exemption on property in
35 this state.
36 (c) "Grant" means money provided by the department to a
37 resident under the program for mortgage loans and homeowners'
38 and motor vehicle insurance payments established in this
39 section.
40 (d) "Senior citizen" means a person 65 years of age or
41 older.
42 (3) Subject to available funds, a resident is eligible for
43 a one-time grant of up to $1,500, or up to $2,500 if the
44 resident is a senior citizen, for payment of a mortgage loan or
45 homeowners' insurance and a one-time grant of up to $1,500, or
46 up to $2,500 if the resident is a senior citizen, for payment of
47 motor vehicle insurance.
48 (4) The department shall:
49 (a) Prescribe the grant application form and the manner of
50 submission of the form. The grant application must include, at a
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51 minimum, the following information and documents:
52 1. The applicant's name, date of birth, age at the time of
53 the grant application, residence address, and, if the
54 application is for the payment of a motor vehicle insurance, the
55 vehicle identification number.
56 2. The grant amount sought, proof of income, if any, and a
57 notarized copy of the applicant's federal income tax return if
58 filed.
59 3. The type of loan or insurance, the mortgagee's or
60 insurer's name and contact information, and a notarized copy of
61 the mortgage or other lending document or the insurance
62 contract.
63 4. A signed affidavit stating that the applicant will use
64 the grant solely for the payment of the mortgage or homeowners'
65 or motor vehicle insurance, as applicable.
66 (b) Publicize the availability of funds and the manner by
67 which the grant application form must be submitted.
68 (c) Establish an order of priority for funds distribution.
69 (d) Ensure that the grants are used solely for the
70 purposes specified in this section and that the total amount of
71 grants does not exceed the amount allocated for this program.
72 (e) Adopt rules to administer this section.
73 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.
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