Variations proposed in ‘My Safe Florida Home’ program

TALLAHASSEE – Following the My Safe Florida Home program expanded final calendar year, the Senate Banking and Insurance policy Committee on Tuesday accredited a proposal that would produce a precedence listing for candidates and include improvements that could be included by grants.

“We’re prioritizing reduced-cash flow householders as the ones that will be served 1st if they make applications,” Chairman Sen. Jim Boyd said before the committee unanimously backed the measure.

The proposed priority checklist for grants and inspections would position very low-profits home owners who are at the very least 60 decades old at the head of the line, relatively than keep the application essentially initial-appear, first-served. Upcoming on the proposed priority listing would be all reduced-money owners, followed by reasonable-cash flow homeowners ages 60 and older, all moderate-cash flow owners, and then all homeowners.

The program delivers matching grants of up to $10,000 for repairs to assistance properties superior withstand storms, this kind of as reinforcing roof-to-wall connections, upgrading roof coverings, and upgrading doors and windows. Proposed adjustments in the monthly bill also would go over advancements to “openings” that include exterior doors, garage doorways, windows, and skylights.

“You may perhaps say, ‘I considered home windows were being in before’,” Boyd stated. “Our knowing is they are. But this clarifies the definition that they are provided.”

The bill also would offer $100 million for the program all through the 2024-2025 fiscal 12 months, which will start off July 1. Throughout the 2023 normal legislative session, lawmakers supplied $100 million for the program and manufactured alterations this sort of as increasing a cap from $500,000 to $700,000 for the insured values of qualities authorized in the plan.

Through a November special session, lawmakers authorised one more $176.17 million to just take treatment of a backlog of applications for the software. The new Senate proposal also would involve householders who acquire grants to report coverage-premium discounts. Gov. Ron DeSantis has asked for $109 million for the method for the duration of the impending fiscal calendar year.