CS/CS/HB 965

1
A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to real property assessment; creating s.
3193.1552, F.S.; providing a definition; requiring property
4appraisers to adjust the assessed value of certain
5properties affected by imported drywall under certain
6circumstances; providing for a nominal just value of $0
7under certain circumstances; providing for application to
8certain properties; providing for nonapplication to
9certain property owners; specifying homestead property as
10damaged for certain purposes; prohibiting consideration of
11homestead property as abandoned under certain
12circumstances; providing for assessment of certain
13property after completion of remediation or repair;
14providing application; providing for future repeal unless
15reviewed and reenacted; providing an effective date.
16
17Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
18
19     Section 1.  Section 193.1552, Florida Statutes, is created
20to read:
21     193.1552  Assessment of properties affected by imported or
22domestic drywall.-
23     (1)  As used in this section, the term "imported or
24domestic drywall" means drywall that contains elevated levels of
25elemental sulfur that results in corrosion of certain metals.
26     (2)  When a property appraiser determines that a single-
27family residential property is affected by imported or domestic
28drywall and needs remediation to bring that property up to
29current building standards, the property appraiser shall adjust
30the assessed value of that property by taking into consideration
31the presence of the imported or domestic drywall and the impact
32of such drywall on the assessed value. If the building cannot be
33used for its intended purpose without remediation or repair, the
34value of such building shall be assessed at the nominal just
35value of $0.
36     (3)  This section applies only to properties in which:
37     (a)  Imported or domestic drywall was used in the
38construction of the property or an improvement to the property.
39     (b)  The imported or domestic drywall has a significant
40negative impact on the just value of the property or
41improvement.
42     (c)  The purchaser was unaware of the imported or domestic
43drywall at the time of purchase.
44     (4)  This section does not apply to property owners who
45were aware of the presence of imported or domestic drywall at
46the time of purchase.
47     (5)  Homestead property to which this section applies shall
48be considered damaged by misfortune or calamity under s.
49193.155(4)(b), except that the 3-year deadline does not apply.
50     (6)  Homestead property shall not be considered abandoned
51when a homeowner vacates such property for the purpose of
52remediation and repair under this section, provided the
53homeowner does not establish a new homestead.
54     (7)  Upon the substantial completion of remediation and
55repairs, the property shall be assessed as if such imported or
56domestic drywall had not been present.
57     (8)  This section is repealed July 1, 2017, unless reviewed
58and reenacted by the Legislature on or before that date.
59     Section 2.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a law
60and shall apply to the 2010 and subsequent assessment rolls.


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