HB 775

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to homestead property; amending s.
3	196.031, F.S.; providing for certain minors to be deemed
4	permanent residents of homestead property for certain
5	purposes; amending s. 196.061, F.S.; providing for
6	nonapplication of certain homestead abandonment provisions
7	to minors inheriting homestead property; providing an
8	effective date.
9
10	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
11
12	Section 1.  Subsection (8) is added to section 196.031,
13	Florida Statutes, to read:
14	196.031  Exemption of homesteads.--
15	(8)  In the case of a minor who has inherited homestead
16	property pursuant to s. 732.4015, the minor shall be deemed to
17	be a permanent resident of the homestead property until such
18	time as the minor reaches majority.
19	Section 2.  Section 196.061, Florida Statutes, is amended
20	to read:
21	196.061  Rental of homestead to constitute
22	abandonment.--The rental of an entire dwelling previously
23	claimed to be a homestead for tax purposes shall constitute the
24	abandonment of said dwelling as a homestead, and said
25	abandonment shall continue until such dwelling is physically
26	occupied by the owner thereof. However, such abandonment of such
27	homestead after January 1 of any year shall not affect the
28	homestead exemption for tax purposes for that particular year so
29	long as this provision is not used for 2 consecutive years. The
30	provisions of this section shall not apply to:
31	(1)  A member of the Armed Forces of the United States
32	whose service in such forces is the result of a mandatory
33	obligation imposed by the federal Selective Service Act or who
34	volunteers for service as a member of the Armed Forces of the
35	United States; or
36	(2)  A minor who has inherited homestead property pursuant
37	to s. 732.4015.
38	Section 3.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2008.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.