HB 243 2024
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hb0243-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to title fraud prevention; creating s. 2
696.031, F.S.; creating a pilot program in Broward 3
County; providing definitions; requiring certain 4
parties to provide specified information to the 5
property appraiser; requiring the property appraiser 6
to make certain notifications to specified parties; 7
providing that certain action or inaction does not 8
give rise to liability; requiring participating 9
property appraisers to submit a report to specified 10
parties containing certain information; providing for 11
future repeal; providing an effective date. 12
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 14
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Section 1. Section 696.031, Florida Statut es, is created 16
to read: 17
696.031 Title fraud prevention through sales contract 18
notification services; pilot program. —There is created in 19
Broward County the Title Fraud Prevention Through Sales Contract 20
Notification Pilot Program. 21
(1) As used in this sec tion, the term: 22
(a) "Monitored identity" has the same meaning as in s. 23
28.47(1). 24
(b) "Professional" means a real estate broker as defined 25
HB 243 2024
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hb0243-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
in s. 475.01(1), an attorney, or a title agent 26
(c) "Property appraiser" means the property appraiser for 27
Broward County. 28
(d) "Real property" means real property located in Broward 29
County. 30
(e) "Recording notification" has the same meaning as in s. 31
28.47(1). 32
(2) Upon execution of a contract for the sale of real 33
property and before the execution of the real prop erty 34
conveyance instrument, a professional must provide to the 35
property appraiser in the county in which the real estate is 36
located the seller's name, mailing address, e -mail address, and 37
phone number as such information appears within the sales 38
contract. 39
(3) Upon receipt of the information provided under 40
subsection (2), the property appraiser shall send a recording 41
notification if a contract involving a monitored identity has 42
been executed. 43
(4) There is no right or cause of action against, and no 44
civil liability on the part of, a professional or property 45
appraiser with respect to any action or inaction taken under 46
this section. 47
(5) By July 1, 2026, a property appraiser who participates 48
in the pilot program must submit a report containing the 49
following information to the Governor, the President of the 50
HB 243 2024
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hb0243-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives: 51
(a) The number of professionals who provided to the 52
property appraiser information pursuant to this section. 53
(b) The number of times information was provided to the 54
property appraiser pursuant to this section. 55
(c) The property appraiser's recommendation as to whether 56
the pilot program is appropriate to implement throughout the 57
state as an effective tool to com bat title fraud. 58
(d) Any other information the property appraiser deems 59
necessary. 60
(6) This section is repealed on July 1, 2026. 61
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024. 62