Florida Senate - 2012                                    SB 1612
       
       
       
       By Senator Latvala
       
       
       
       
       16-01384-12                                           20121612__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to trust funds; amending s. 20.605,
    3         F.S.; creating the Foreclosure and Eviction Prevention
    4         Trust Fund within the Department of Economic
    5         Opportunity as a depository for funds appropriated to
    6         provide payment assistance for housing accommodations
    7         for certain state residents who become unemployed;
    8         providing an effective date.
    9  
   10  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   11  
   12         Section 1. Section 20.605, Florida Statutes, is amended to
   13  read:
   14         20.605 Administrative Trust Fund of the Department of
   15  Economic Opportunity; trust funds.—The following trust funds are
   16  administered by the Department of Economic Opportunity:
   17         (1) The Administrative Trust Fund is created within the
   18  Department of Economic Opportunity.
   19         (a)(2) Funds shall be used to support for the purpose of
   20  supporting the administrative functions of the department as
   21  required by law, pursuant to legislative appropriation or an
   22  approved amendment to the department’s operating budget pursuant
   23  to the provisions of chapter 216.
   24         (b)(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 216.301 and
   25  pursuant to s. 216.351, any balance in the trust fund at the end
   26  of any fiscal year shall remain in the trust fund at the end of
   27  the year and shall be available for carrying out the purposes of
   28  the trust fund.
   29         (2) The Foreclosure and Eviction Prevention Trust Fund.
   30         (a) The trust fund is established for use as a depository
   31  for all moneys to be used to assist state residents who became
   32  unemployed within 1 year before July 1, 2012, and who are unable
   33  to pay any portion of their housing costs at the time of their
   34  application for assistance. Moneys to be credited to the trust
   35  fund shall consist of funds appropriated by the Legislature,
   36  including funds received from any other source which the
   37  Legislature directs be used for this purpose, and all proceeds
   38  derived from the use of such moneys.
   39         (b) Such funds may be expended only to provide payment
   40  assistance to state residents who demonstrate that they have
   41  become unemployed through no fault of their own and are unable
   42  to pay for their current housing accommodations if the cost of
   43  such housing has not increased due to the resident’s voluntary
   44  change in housing accommodations following the resident’s loss
   45  of employment. Preference for assistance granted shall be given
   46  to a resident who is a veteran as defined in s. 1.01.
   47         (c) Notwithstanding s. 216.301 and pursuant to s. 216.351,
   48  any balance in the trust fund at the end of any fiscal year
   49  shall remain in the trust fund at the end of the year and be
   50  available for carrying out the purposes of the trust fund.
   51         (d) In accordance with s. 19(f)(2), Art. III of the State
   52  Constitution, the trust fund shall, unless terminated sooner, be
   53  terminated on July 1, 2016. Before its scheduled termination,
   54  the trust fund shall be reviewed as provided in s. 215.3206(1)
   55  and (2).
   56         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2012.