‘What you’re apprehensive about is wind-driven rain occasions that trigger harm and undergo your sliding doorways.’
The Senate gave a unanimous thumbs as much as a measure aiming to make sure state funds will assist pay for weather-proofing initiatives at condos.
The vote on the ground was 37-0. Hollywood impartial Democratic Sen. Jason Pizzo known as the unique My Protected Florida Condominium Pilot Program — an offshoot of a bigger home-hardening initiative — defective and ineffective as he labored his invoice (SB 1706) by the Committee course of.
That program was initiated in 2024 and included a $30 million appropriation to offer free hurricane mitigation inspections and grants for eligible condominium associations. However solely about $10 million of that cash has been used, and a few third of that has coated administrative prices.
A serious difficulty with the unique program, in keeping with Pizzo, is that monetary help for some main upgrades to condominium models isn’t obtainable for a lot of residents.
“When you’ve got a 20-story condominium and also you’re on the tenth flooring, you’re not apprehensive about floods. You’re not apprehensive concerning the roof leaking. What you’re apprehensive about is wind-driven rain occasions that trigger harm and undergo your sliding doorways,” Pizzo stated, arguing that’s the primary level of broadening eligibility for this system.
However the companion measure has had hassle within the Home. That invoice (HB 1497), sponsored by Parkland Democratic Rep. Christine Hunschofsky, cleared solely certainly one of three Committees and it’s not clear if it will likely be addressed on the ground of that chamber.
SB 1706 would develop eligibility statewide, however slim participation to older condominium buildings the place at the very least 80% of models are owned and occupied by households incomes not more than 80% of the world median revenue.
The measure would require the Division of Monetary Providers to confirm family revenue, allow periodic recertification and mandate revenue documentation with grant purposes.
The invoice would additionally restrict grants by requiring associations to finish 100% of really helpful upgrades that strengthen doorways and home windows to wind and particles to qualify for mitigation credit or insurance coverage reductions.
