Read the full stored bill text
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
.—
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(1)
The People’s Relief Program is created within the
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department. The purpose of the program is to provide residents
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of this state who are experiencing economic hardship with
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assistance for everyday expenses, such as housing, childcare,
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and health care.
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(2)
It is the intent of the Legislature that this program
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ensure long-term financial stability for individuals and
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families who reside in this state by offering grants to assist
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residents experiencing economic hardship.
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(3)
Subject to appropriation by the Legislature, the
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program shall provide assistance in the form of grants to
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residents experiencing economic hardship. Such grants must be
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available to residents if any of the following occurs:
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(a)
Utility costs rise above a specified percentage of
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average household income.
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(b)
Property insurance premiums rise above a specified
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threshold.
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(c)
Statewide unemployment rises above a specified
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percentage.
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(d)
An economic decline causes widespread hardship.
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(e)
A natural disaster leads to the declaration of a state
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of emergency.
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(4)
To be eligible for assistance under the program, an
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individual must:
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(a)
Have been a resident of this state for at least 1 year
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before applying;
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(b)
Provide evidence of a change in circumstances which
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hinders or prohibits the individual from being able to fulfill
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pending financial obligations related to utility, property
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insurance, childcare, or health care expenses; and
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(c)
Provide documentation of utility costs, property
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insurance premiums, childcare expenses, or health care expenses.
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(5)
The department shall adopt rules to implement this
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section. The rules must, at a minimum, include all of the
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following:
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(a)
An application that must be available on the
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department’s website.
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(b)
The specified thresholds for the conditions in
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paragraphs (3)(a)-(d).
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(c)
The procedures for awarding and disbursing the grants.
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(d)
Restrictions on the use of grant funds.
59 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.