FL S0928

Counties may levy a discretionary surtax on building-related permits to establish a Low and Moderate Income Insurance Assistance Fund providing no-interest loans to eligible homeowners for insurance premiums, with a maximum of $2,000 per year per family.

Fund revenue allocation: 75 percent for low-income families (income not exceeding 80 percent of area median) and 25 percent for moderate-income families (income between 80-140 percent of area median).

Surtax rates range from $1 per permit (permits under $11) to $50 per permit (permits $1,000 or more), with 90 percent of revenues deposited into the assistance fund and 10 percent retained for administrative costs.

Loans must be repaid if the homestead is sold or refinanced, with repayment collected through non-ad valorem assessment methods or alternative legal methods, and all repayments returned to the fund.

Program adoption begins July 1, 2010 for constitutional charter counties, expanding to all remaining counties effective July 1, 2011.