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Florida Senate
-
2026
SB 1432
By
Senator Calatayud
38-01251B-26 20261432__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to public employee housing benefits;
3 creating s. 112.049, F.S.; defining terms; authorizing
4 specified public employers to provide a one-time
5 payout of sick leave and annual leave to certain
6 employees for a specified purpose; providing
7 requirements for the payout; requiring the employer to
8 remit payment and disburse funds in a specified
9 manner; requiring an escrow agent to return funds
10 under certain circumstances; requiring the Department
11 of Management Services to adopt rules; authorizing
12 political subdivisions to take certain actions to
13 implement specified provisions; providing
14 construction; providing an effective date.
15
16 WHEREAS, the Legislature recognizes the importance of home
17 ownership in promoting family stability, responsible
18 citizenship, and long-term investment in communities, and
19 WHEREAS, the Legislature intends to authorize public
20 employers to offer a voluntary, one-time payout of accrued sick
21 and annual leave to assist employees with the purchase of a
22 primary residence, NOW, THEREFORE,
23
24 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
25
26 Section 1. Section 112.049, Florida Statutes, is created to
27 read:
28
112.049
Heroes Reward Program.—
29
(1)
As used in this section, the term:
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(a)
“Employee” means any individual employed by a public
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employer on a full-time, active basis in a permanent, benefits
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eligible position.
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(b)
“Primary residence” means the dwelling the employee
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intends to occupy as his or her principal and permanent
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residence.
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(c)
“Public employer” has the same meaning as in s.
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447.203(2).
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(2)
Notwithstanding s. 110.219, a public employer may
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provide an employee a one-time payout of his or her sick or
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annual leave, or a combination thereof, for the purchase of a
41
primary residence if:
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(a)
The payout is used to assist with the purchase of a
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primary residence and such purchase is evidenced by:
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1.
A fully executed purchase-and-sale agreement.
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2.
A final closing disclosure or settlement statement,
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issued by a licensed closing or escrow agent. This does not
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include estimated, preliminary, or unsigned documents.
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(b)
The employee retains a balance of at least 21 days of
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accrued sick leave following the payout.
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(c)
The employee is able to redeem any requested amount of
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accrued annual leave, with no maximum cap, provided the employee
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otherwise meets the requirements of this section.
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(d)
The public employer provides the employee with a
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written statement confirming the one-time, nonrefundable nature
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of the payout.
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(3)
A payout under this section is separate from and in
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addition to the number of hours of accrued annual leave that may
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be used for purposes of the Deferred Retirement Option Program
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under s. 121.091.
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(a)
Leave paid out under this section must be deducted from
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the employee’s accrued leave balances at the time of payment and
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may not later be counted toward any terminal leave payout or
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other leave conversion program.
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(b)
All payments must be made at the employee’s current
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base rate of pay and are subject to applicable taxes. A payout
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under this section is not terminal pay, severance pay, or
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compensation for purposes of retirement calculations under
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chapter 121.
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(c)
At the employee’s written request, the employer shall
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remit the approved payout directly to a licensed closing or
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escrow agent identified in the final closing disclosure or
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settlement statement.
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(d)
Upon receipt of a complete and compliant request from
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the employee, including a fully executed purchase-and-sale
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agreement and a final closing disclosure, the employer shall
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disburse funds by electronic wire transfer to the designated
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closing or escrow agent no later than 3 business working days
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after the scheduled closing date.
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(e)
Funds deposited under this section shall be disbursed
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solely for allowable home purchase costs at closing. If the
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transaction does not close, the escrow agent shall return the
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funds to the employer with 5 business days, and the employee’s
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leave balances shall be restored accordingly.
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(4)(a)
The Department of Management Services shall adopt
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rules to implement this section.
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(b)
A political subdivision may implement this program by
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ordinance, resolution, written policy, or collective bargaining
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agreement.
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(c)
The program does not require any public employer to
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establish or maintain the benefit authorized in this section.
91 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.