HB 1609 2024
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hb1609-00
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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 pregnancy support services; 2
creating s. 381.97, F.S.; providing legislative 3
intent; establishing the Florida State Maternity 4
Housing Grant Program within the Department of Health; 5
requiring the program to provide certain resources; 6
requiring the department to use grant funds for 7
specified expenses; providing a limitation on the 8
amount of grants awarded under the program; 9
authorizing the depar tment to adopt rules necessary to 10
administer the program; providing an effective date. 11
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 13
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Section 1. Section 381.97, Florida Statutes, is created to 15
read: 16
381.97 Florida State Maternity Hou sing Grant Program.— 17
(1) It is the intent of the Legislature to provide housing 18
resources for resident women and families experiencing 19
homelessness during the prenatal period, regardless of age or 20
marital status, whose financial resources have been deter mined 21
inadequate to meet residential costs. 22
(2) There is created within the department the Florida 23
State Maternity Housing Grant Program to provide approved living 24
arrangements for residents experiencing homelessness during the 25
HB 1609 2024
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hb1609-00
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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
prenatal period. 26
(3) The grant program shall provide resources for approved 27
persons to reside in an alternative living arrangement for a 28
period not to exceed 8 months, which includes a maximum of 6 29
weeks of postpartum care. 30
(4) The department shall use grant funds specifically 31
appropriated for the grant program to cover expenses related to 32
any of the following: 33
(a) Housing in an authorized living arrangement for a 34
period of time determined by the mother's estimated delivery 35
date. 36
(b) Services recommended by the department fo r women and 37
families approved for the grant program to encourage economic 38
independence and positive health outcomes for participants. 39
(c) Staffing and reimbursements for providers of 40
authorized living arrangements. 41
(d) All other related costs for the a dministration of the 42
program, not to exceed five percent of the total grant funds. 43
(5) The total amount of grants awarded may not exceed the 44
funding appropriated for the grant program. 45
(6) The department may adopt rules necessary to administer 46
the program. The rules may include, but need not be limited to: 47
(a) A framework for the payment or reimbursement of funds 48
to the mother for authorized living arrangements. 49
(b) Eligibility criteria for pregnant mothers and 50
HB 1609 2024
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1609-00
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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
expecting families seeking maternity housing services, including 51
a sliding fee scale for participants. 52
(c) Requirements for maternity housing grant program 53
applications. 54
(d) Guidelines for assessing the appropriateness of 55
authorized living arrangements and for a determination of 56
approval for authorized living arrangements. 57
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024. 58