| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to unclaimed deposits held by |
| 3 | utilities; amending s. 717.108, F.S.; requiring that |
| 4 | any unclaimed deposits held by a utility be deposited |
| 5 | annually into the Grants and Donations Trust Fund in |
| 6 | the Department of Community Affairs, or its successor |
| 7 | agency, to supplement the Low-Income Home Energy |
| 8 | Assistance Program; providing an effective date. |
| 9 |
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| 10 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 11 |
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| 12 | Section 1. Section 717.108, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 13 | to read: |
| 14 | 717.108 Deposits held by utilities.- |
| 15 | (1) Any deposit, including any interest thereon, made by a |
| 16 | subscriber with a utility to secure payment or any sum paid in |
| 17 | advance for utility services to be furnished, less any lawful |
| 18 | charges, which that remains unclaimed by the owner for more than |
| 19 | 1 year after termination of the services for which the deposit |
| 20 | or advance payment was made is presumed unclaimed. |
| 21 | (2) The unclaimed deposits shall be deposited annually |
| 22 | into the Grants and Donations Trust Fund within the Department |
| 23 | of Community Affairs, or the Department of Community Affairs' |
| 24 | successor agency, to supplement funds of the Low-Income Home |
| 25 | Energy Assistance Program which are used to assist low-income |
| 26 | households in meeting the costs of home heating and cooling |
| 27 | bills. These funds shall be administered through the local |
| 28 | provider agencies that administer the Low-Income Home Energy |
| 29 | Assistance Program. |
| 30 | Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2012. |