FL H1543

Creates the Low-Income Home Accessibility Program under Florida Statutes section 420.50881 to assist low-income persons with disabilities by providing home accessibility services that affect health and safety and reduce premature institutional care placement.

Establishes eligibility requirements: persons with disabilities earning at or below 125 percent of federal poverty guidelines and residing in privately owned dwellings including single-family homes, manufactured homes, townhomes, or apartments.

Authorizes assistance including transition services from institutions, wages and benefits for direct service providers, accessibility repairs (ramps, handrails, electrical work), assistive devices, and interior/exterior repairs necessary for health and safety.

Requires the Florida Housing Finance Corporation to administer the program in cooperation with Centers for Independent Living, with administrative expenses capped at 10 percent of total grant funds and funds distributed based on county poverty population with a minimum base of $3,000 per county.

Takes effect July 1, 2021; funds appropriated to the program shall be deposited into the State Housing Trust Fund with the corporation authorized to enter contracts, seek funding, and adopt rules to implement the program.