Florida Senate - 2026                                     SB 170
       
       
        
       By Senator Jones
       
       
       
       
       
       34-00410-26                                            2026170__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to emergency relief; creating s.
    3         409.14512, F.S.; creating the People’s Relief Program
    4         within the Department of Children and Families;
    5         providing a purpose for the program; providing
    6         legislative intent; requiring the program to provide
    7         assistance in the form of grants to certain residents
    8         under specified conditions; providing program
    9         eligibility requirements for individuals; requiring
   10         the department to adopt specified rules; providing an
   11         effective date.
   12          
   13  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   14  
   15         Section 1. Section 409.14512, Florida Statutes, is created
   16  to read:
   17         409.14512 People’s Relief Program.—
   18         (1) The People’s Relief Program is created within the
   19  department. The purpose of the program is to provide residents
   20  of this state who are experiencing economic hardship with
   21  assistance for everyday expenses, such as housing, childcare,
   22  and health care.
   23         (2) It is the intent of the Legislature that this program
   24  ensure long-term financial stability for individuals and
   25  families who reside in this state by offering grants to assist
   26  residents experiencing economic hardship.
   27         (3) Subject to appropriation by the Legislature, the
   28  program shall provide assistance in the form of grants to
   29  residents experiencing economic hardship. Such grants must be
   30  available to residents if any of the following occurs:
   31         (a) Utility costs rise above a specified percentage of
   32  average household income.
   33         (b) Property insurance premiums rise above a specified
   34  threshold.
   35         (c) Statewide unemployment rises above a specified
   36  percentage.
   37         (d) An economic decline causes widespread hardship.
   38         (e) A natural disaster leads to the declaration of a state
   39  of emergency.
   40         (4) To be eligible for assistance under the program, an
   41  individual must:
   42         (a) Have been a resident of this state for at least 1 year
   43  before applying;
   44         (b) Provide evidence of a change in circumstances which
   45  hinders or prohibits the individual from being able to fulfill
   46  pending financial obligations related to utility, property
   47  insurance, childcare, or health care expenses; and
   48         (c) Provide documentation of utility costs, property
   49  insurance premiums, childcare expenses, or health care expenses.
   50         (5) The department shall adopt rules to implement this
   51  section. The rules must, at a minimum, include all of the
   52  following:
   53         (a) An application that must be available on the
   54  department’s website.
   55         (b) The specified thresholds for the conditions in
   56  paragraphs (3)(a)-(d).
   57         (c) The procedures for awarding and disbursing the grants.
   58         (d) Restrictions on the use of grant funds.
   59         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.