House Bill 1221 amends various sections of Florida Statutes to enhance the management of financial programs and abandoned property, with a particular focus on the My Safe Florida Home Program. The bill revises the Chief Financial Officer's rulemaking authority to permit advance payments for goods and services, including prepaid multiyear software licenses. It updates eligibility requirements for hurricane mitigation inspections, streamlining the application process by removing the need for licensed inspectors to determine mitigation measures during initial inspections. Additionally, the bill specifies that improvements funded by grants must be identified in the final hurricane mitigation inspection.

The bill also introduces significant changes to the handling of abandoned property, replacing the term "unclaimed" with "abandoned" throughout the text and establishing clearer guidelines for the notification process and responsibilities of property holders. It mandates that holders submit electronic reports detailing abandoned property and enhances the notification process for apparent owners. Furthermore, the bill outlines new requirements for claimant representatives, including the need for specific recovery agreements and penalties for wrongful claims. Overall, HB 1221 aims to improve the efficiency, accountability, and regulatory framework surrounding financial management and abandoned property in Florida.

Statutes affected:
H 1221 Filed: 215.422, 284.08, 284.33, 626.171, 626.292, 626.611, 626.621, 626.731, 626.785, 626.831, 648.34, 648.382, 717.001, 717.102, 717.103, 717.104, 717.1045, 717.105, 717.107, 717.1071, 717.108, 717.109, 717.1101, 717.111, 717.1125, 717.113, 717.115, 717.116, 717.117, 717.118, 717.119, 717.122, 717.123, 717.1235, 717.124, 717.12403, 717.12404, 717.12405, 717.12406, 717.1241, 717.1244, 717.1245, 717.125, 717.126, 717.1261, 717.1262, 717.129, 717.1315, 717.1333, 717.135, 717.138, 717.1382, 717.139, 717.1400, 197.582, 626.9541