SB393 Summary

• Establishes the Strengthen Alabama Homes Program within the Department of Insurance to provide grants for retrofitting insurable property to resist hurricane and catastrophic windstorm damage.

• Creates the Strengthen Alabama Homes Fund in the State Treasury to administer the program; funds do not lapse and cannot be transferred to the General Fund.

• Program implementation depends on annual legislative appropriations and federal or other grants; the Department of Insurance must seek additional federal funding to supplement state resources.

• Eligible applicants must be residential property owners with homestead exemptions who meet department requirements; grants must fund retrofits complying with local building codes and the Fortified for Existing Homes Program standards.

• Mitigation contractors must obtain required local permits and inspections before reimbursement; all completed projects are subject to random reinspection.

• Act becomes effective January 1, 2012.