The 2024 legislative session in Florida witnessed deliberations on various issues impacting community associations. Several bills passed in both chambers and await the Governor’s action. On April 24, 2024, the Governor signed House Bill 1029 into law. Below is a summary:
House Bill 1029: My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program
This act intends to provide condominium associations with a program similar to the My Safe Florida Home Program by establishing what is known as the My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot (MSFCP) Program. Eligible condominiums can now apply for mitigation grants to help harden their buildings in an effort to mitigate hurricane damage.
- To apply for an inspection, an association must receive approval from a majority vote of the board of administration or a majority vote of the total voting interests of the association.
- To apply for a grant, an association must receive a unanimous vote of all unit owners within the structure or building that is the subject of the mitigation grant.
- The votes required by this section of the bill may take place at the annual budget meeting of the association or at a unit owner meeting called for the purpose of taking such vote. However, before a vote of the unit owners can be taken, the association must provide to the unit owners a clear disclosure of the MSFCP Program on a form created by DFS.
- The president and the treasurer of the board of administration must sign the disclosure form indicating that a copy of the form was provided to each unit owner of the association.
- The signed disclosure form and the minutes from the meeting at which the unit owners voted to participate in the MSFCP Program must be maintained as part of the association’s official records.
- Within 14 days after an affirmative vote to participate in the MSFCP Program, the association must provide written notice in the same manner as required under s. 718.112(2)(d), F.S.,47 to all unit owners of the decision to participate in the MSFCP Program.
- The grant is limited to $175,000 per association.
- Grants for eligible associations may be used for the following improvements:
- Opening protection including exterior doors, garage doors, skylights and windows.
- Reinforcing roof-to-wall connections.
- Improving the strength of roof-deck attachments.
- Secondary water resistance for the roof.
- The bill provides that a mitigation grant must be awarded to the association, and unit owners may not participate individually in the MSFCP Program.
Creates 215.5587, Florida Statutes