Florida HB 1065: Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Initiative

Bill Text

HB 1065 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1065-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to public employee housing benefits; 2
creating s. 112.049, F.S.; providing definitions; 3
authorizing specified public employers to provide a 4
one-time payout of sick leave and annual leave to 5
certain employees for a specified purpose; providing 6
requirements for the payout; requiring the Department 7
of Management Services to adopt rules; authorizing 8
political subdivisions to take certain actions to 9
implement specified provisions; providing 10
construction; providing an effective date. 11
12
WHEREAS, the Legislature recognizes the importance of 13
home ownership in promoting family stability, responsible 14
citizenship, and long-term investment in communities, and 15
WHEREAS, the Legislature intends to authorize public 16
employers to offer a voluntary, one-time payout of accrued 17
sick and annual leave to assist employees with the purchase 18
of a primary residence, NOW, THEREFORE, 19
20
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 21
22
Section 1. Section 112.049, Florida Statutes, is created 23
to read: 24
112.049 Heroes Reward Program.— 25

HB 1065 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

(1) As used in this section, the term: 26
(a) "Employee" means any individual employed by a public 27
employer on a full-time, active basis in a permanent, benefits-28
eligible position. 29
(b) "Primary residence" means the dwelling the employee 30
intends to occupy as his or her principal and permanent 31
residence. 32
(c) "Public employer" has the same meaning as in s. 33
447.203(2). 34
(2) Notwithstanding s. 110.219, a public employer may 35
provide an employee a one-time payout of his or her sick or 36
annual leave, or a combination thereof, for the purchase of a 37
primary residence if: 38
(a) The payout is used to assist with the purchase of a 39
primary residence and such purchase is evidenced by: 40
1. A fully executed purchase-and-sale agreement. 41
2. A final closing disclosure or settlement statement, 42
issued by a licensed closing or escrow agent. This does not 43
include estimated, preliminary, or unsigned documents. 44
(b) The employee retains a balance of at least 21 days of 45
accrued sick leave following the payout. 46
(c) The employee is able to redeem any requested amount of 47
accrued annual leave, with no maximum cap, provided the employee 48
otherwise meets the requirements of this section. 49
(d) The public employer provides the employee with a 50

HB 1065 2026

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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

written statement confirming the one-time, nonrefundable nature 51
of the payout. 52
(3) A payout under this section is separate from and in 53
addition to the number of hours of accrued annual leave that may 54
be used for purposes of the Deferred Retirement Option Program 55
under s. 121.091. 56
(a) Leave paid out under this section must be deducted 57
from the employee's accrued leave balances at the time of 58
payment and may not later be counted toward any terminal leave 59
payout or other leave conversion program. 60
(b) All payments must be made at the employee's current 61
base rate of pay and are subject to applicable taxes. A payout 62
under this section is not terminal pay, severance pay, or 63
compensation for purposes of retirement calculations under 64
chapter 121. 65
(c) At the employee's written request, the employer shall 66
remit the approved payout directly to a licensed closing or 67
escrow agent identified in the final closing disclosure or 68
settlement statement. 69
(d) Upon receipt of a complete and compliant request from 70
the employee, including a fully executed purchase-and-sale 71
agreement and a final closing disclosure, the employer shall 72
disburse funds by electronic wire transfer to the designated 73
closing or escrow agent no later than 3 business working days 74
after the scheduled closing date. 75

HB 1065 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

(e) Funds deposited under this section shall be disbursed 76
solely for allowable home purchase costs at closing. If the 77
transaction does not close, the escrow agent shall return the 78
funds to the employer with 5 business days, and the employee's 79
leave balances shall be restored accordingly. 80
(4)(a) The Department of Management Services shall adopt 81
rules to implement this section. 82
(b) A political subdivision may implement this program by 83
ordinance, resolution, written policy, or collective bargaining 84
agreement. 85
(c) The program does n