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 or domestic drywall under
6certain circumstances; providing for a nominal just value
7of $0 under certain circumstances; providing for
8application to certain properties; providing for
9nonapplication to certain property owners; specifying
10homestead property as damaged for certain purposes;
11prohibiting consideration of homestead property as
12abandoned under certain circumstances; providing for
13assessment of certain property after completion of
14remediation or repair; providing application; providing
15for future repeal unless reviewed and reenacted; providing
16an effective date.
17
18Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
19
20     Section 1.  Section 193.1552, Florida Statutes, is created
21to read:
22     193.1552  Assessment of properties affected by imported or
23domestic drywall.-
24     (1)  As used in this section, the term "imported or
25domestic drywall" means drywall that contains elevated levels of
26elemental sulfur that results in corrosion of certain metals.
27     (2)  When a property appraiser determines that a single-
28family residential property is affected by imported or domestic
29drywall and needs remediation to bring that property up to
30current building standards, the property appraiser shall adjust
31the assessed value of that property by taking into consideration
32the presence of the imported or domestic drywall and the impact
33of such drywall on the assessed value. If the building cannot be
34used for its intended purpose without remediation or repair, the
35value of such building shall be assessed at the nominal just
36value of $0.
37     (3)  This section applies only to properties in which:
38     (a)  Imported or domestic drywall was used in the
39construction of the property or an improvement to the property.
40     (b)  The imported or domestic drywall has a significant
41negative impact on the just value of the property or
42improvement.
43     (c)  The purchaser was unaware of the imported or domestic
44drywall at the time of purchase.
45     (4)  This section does not apply to property owners who
46were aware of the presence of imported or domestic drywall at
47the time of purchase.
48     (5)  Homestead property to which this section applies shall
49be considered damaged by misfortune or calamity under s.
50193.155(4)(b), except that the 3-year deadline does not apply.
51     (6)  Homestead property shall not be considered abandoned
52when a homeowner vacates such property for the purpose of
53remediation and repair under this section, provided the
54homeowner does not establish a new homestead.
55     (7)  Upon the substantial completion of remediation and
56repairs, the property shall be assessed as if such imported or
57domestic drywall had not been present.
58     (8)  This section is repealed July 1, 2017, unless reviewed
59and reenacted by the Legislature on or before that date.
60     Section 2.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a law
61and shall apply to the 2010 and subsequent assessment rolls.


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