FL S7146

Appropriates $70 million from the Local Government Housing Trust Fund to the Department of Economic Opportunity for transfer to Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC) for the State Housing Initiative Program (SHIP) to fund housing rehabilitation, purchases, counseling, and foreclosure assistance strategies.

Requires local governments to allocate a minimum of 20 percent of SHIP funds to serve persons with special needs, with priority for individuals with developmental, hearing, visual, or mobility disabilities and home modifications.

Appropriates $65 million from the State Housing Trust Fund to FHFC for the State Apartment Incentive Loan Program (SAIL), requiring that 5-15 percent of units be designated for individuals with disabilities and additional units serve elderly and extremely low-income tenants.

Allocates $10 million to FHFC for a competitive grant program to provide housing for homeless persons through nonprofit organizations purchasing and renovating homes or constructing small specialty housing.

Appropriates $5,262,579 to the State Court System for technology solutions to expedite foreclosure cases and $9,908,948 (plus $9,908,947 for 2014-2015) for supplemental court resources including senior judge days and case management staff.

Appropriates $10 million to the Department of Legal Affairs, Office of the Attorney General, to contract with regional legal aid providers for foreclosure prevention services and $2 million for a consumer awareness campaign regarding affordable housing.

Makes all appropriations contingent upon deposit of $200,080,474 from the National Mortgage Settlement consent judgment into state treasury, with funds allocated to the Local Government Housing Trust Fund ($70 million), State Housing Trust Fund ($78 million), and General Revenue Fund ($52,080,474).