House Bill 1279 amends various sections of Florida law to impose stricter regulations on services and financial assistance for noncitizens. The bill allows counties to require proof of lawful presence in the U.S. for borrowers seeking financial assistance and prohibits state and local entities, as well as private corporations, from providing down payment assistance to individuals who are not lawfully present. If such assistance is provided, the recipient must repay it immediately, with foreclosure proceedings possible for non-repayment. Additionally, eligibility criteria for the Florida Homeownership Assistance Program and the Florida Hometown Hero Program are revised to include only those who are lawfully present in the U.S.

The legislation also enhances penalties for employers who violate employment laws regarding unauthorized aliens, including license suspensions and fines that must be deposited into a specified trust fund. It mandates that all private employers use the E-Verify system to verify new employees' eligibility and prohibits money services businesses from processing foreign remittance transfers unless they confirm that the sender is not an unauthorized alien. The bill establishes a tiered penalty system for employers who knowingly employ unauthorized aliens, allowing individuals harmed by such employment to seek damages. Overall, HB 1279 aims to strengthen compliance with immigration laws and increase accountability for employers in Florida.

Statutes affected:
H 1279 Filed: 420.5088, 448.095