Florida 2024 Regular Session

Florida House Bill H1609 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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3	3	HB 1609 2024
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7	7	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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10	10	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
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14	14	A bill to be entitled 1
15	15	An act relating to pregnancy support services; 2
16	16	creating s. 381.97, F.S.; providing legislative 3
17	17	intent; establishing the Florida State Maternity 4
18	18	Housing Grant Program within the Department of Health; 5
19	19	requiring the program to provide certain resources; 6
20	20	requiring the department to use grant funds for 7
21	21	specified expenses; providing a limitation on the 8
22	22	amount of grants awarded under the program; 9
23	23	authorizing the depar tment to adopt rules necessary to 10
24	24	administer the program; providing an effective date. 11
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26	26	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 13
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28	28	Section 1. Section 381.97, Florida Statutes, is created to 15
29	29	read: 16
30	30	381.97 Florida State Maternity Hou sing Grant Program.— 17
31	31	(1) It is the intent of the Legislature to provide housing 18
32	32	resources for resident women and families experiencing 19
33	33	homelessness during the prenatal period, regardless of age or 20
34	34	marital status, whose financial resources have been deter mined 21
35	35	inadequate to meet residential costs. 22
36	36	(2) There is created within the department the Florida 23
37	37	State Maternity Housing Grant Program to provide approved living 24
38	38	arrangements for residents experiencing homelessness during the 25
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40	40	HB 1609 2024
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44	44	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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47	47	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
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51	51	prenatal period. 26
52	52	(3) The grant program shall provide resources for approved 27
53	53	persons to reside in an alternative living arrangement for a 28
54	54	period not to exceed 8 months, which includes a maximum of 6 29
55	55	weeks of postpartum care. 30
56	56	(4) The department shall use grant funds specifically 31
57	57	appropriated for the grant program to cover expenses related to 32
58	58	any of the following: 33
59	59	(a) Housing in an authorized living arrangement for a 34
60	60	period of time determined by the mother's estimated delivery 35
61	61	date. 36
62	62	(b) Services recommended by the department fo r women and 37
63	63	families approved for the grant program to encourage economic 38
64	64	independence and positive health outcomes for participants. 39
65	65	(c) Staffing and reimbursements for providers of 40
66	66	authorized living arrangements. 41
67	67	(d) All other related costs for the a dministration of the 42
68	68	program, not to exceed five percent of the total grant funds. 43
69	69	(5) The total amount of grants awarded may not exceed the 44
70	70	funding appropriated for the grant program. 45
71	71	(6) The department may adopt rules necessary to administer 46
72	72	the program. The rules may include, but need not be limited to: 47
73	73	(a) A framework for the payment or reimbursement of funds 48
74	74	to the mother for authorized living arrangements. 49
75	75	(b) Eligibility criteria for pregnant mothers and 50
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84	84	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
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88	88	expecting families seeking maternity housing services, including 51
89	89	a sliding fee scale for participants. 52
90	90	(c) Requirements for maternity housing grant program 53
91	91	applications. 54
92	92	(d) Guidelines for assessing the appropriateness of 55
93	93	authorized living arrangements and for a determination of 56
94	94	approval for authorized living arrangements. 57
95	95	Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024. 58