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 243 2024
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to title fraud prevention; creating s.
3 696.031, F.S.; creating a pilot program in Broward
4 County; providing definitions; requiring certain
5 parties to provide specified information to the
6 property appraiser; requiring the property appraiser
7 to make certain notifications to specified parties;
8 providing that certain action or inaction does not
9 give rise to liability; requiring participating
10 property appraisers to submit a report to specified
11 parties containing certain information; providing for
12 future repeal; providing an effective date.
13
14 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
15
16 Section 1. Section 696.031, Florida Statutes, is created
17 to read:
18 696.031 Title fraud prevention through sales contract
19 notification services; pilot program.—There is created in
20 Broward County the Title Fraud Prevention Through Sales Contract
21 Notification Pilot Program.
22 (1) As used in this section, the term:
23 (a) "Monitored identity" has the same meaning as in s.
24 28.47(1).
25 (b) "Professional" means a real estate broker as defined
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26 in s. 475.01(1), an attorney, or a title agent
27 (c) "Property appraiser" means the property appraiser for
28 Broward County.
29 (d) "Real property" means real property located in Broward
30 County.
31 (e) "Recording notification" has the same meaning as in s.
32 28.47(1).
33 (2) Upon execution of a contract for the sale of real
34 property and before the execution of the real property
35 conveyance instrument, a professional must provide to the
36 property appraiser in the county in which the real estate is
37 located the seller's name, mailing address, e-mail address, and
38 phone number as such information appears within the sales
39 contract.
40 (3) Upon receipt of the information provided under
41 subsection (2), the property appraiser shall send a recording
42 notification if a contract involving a monitored identity has
43 been executed.
44 (4) There is no right or cause of action against, and no
45 civil liability on the part of, a professional or property
46 appraiser with respect to any action or inaction taken under
47 this section.
48 (5) By July 1, 2026, a property appraiser who participates
49 in the pilot program must submit a report containing the
50 following information to the Governor, the President of the
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51 Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives:
52 (a) The number of professionals who provided to the
53 property appraiser information pursuant to this section.
54 (b) The number of times information was provided to the
55 property appraiser pursuant to this section.
56 (c) The property appraiser's recommendation as to whether
57 the pilot program is appropriate to implement throughout the
58 state as an effective tool to combat title fraud.
59 (d) Any other information the property appraiser deems
60 necessary.
61 (6) This section is repealed on July 1, 2026.
62 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.
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