Florida SB 1432: Foster Parents

Bill Text

1432 
Public Employee Housing Benefits 
2026-01-08T06:37:13Z 
Authorizing specified public employers to provide a one-time payout of sick leave and annual leave to certain employees for a specified purpose; requiring the employer to remit payment and disburse funds in a specified manner; requiring an escrow agent to return funds under certain circumstances, etc. 
Original Filed Version 
2026 
S 
2026-07-01T00:00:00Z 
GB 
General Bill 
__ 

 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: 
 30 (a) “Employee” means any individual employed by a public 
 31 employer on a full-time, active basis in a permanent, benefits 
 32 eligible position. 
 33 (b) “Primary residence” means the dwelling the employee 
 34 intends to occupy as his or her principal and permanent 
 35 residence. 
 36 (c) “Public employer” has the same meaning as in s. 
 37 447.203(2). 
 38 (2) Notwithstanding s. 110.219, a public employer may 
 39 provide an employee a one-time payout of his or her sick or 
 40 annual leave, or a combination thereof, for the purchase of a 
 41 primary residence if: 
 42 (a) The payout is used to assist with the purchase of a 
 43 primary residence and such purchase is evidenced by: 
 44 1. A fully executed purchase-and-sale agreement. 
 45 2. A final closing disclosure or settlement statement, 
 46 issued by a licensed closing or escrow agent. This does not 
 47 include estimated, preliminary, or unsigned documents. 
 48 (b) The employee retains a balance of at least 21 days of 
 49 accrued sick leave following the payout. 
 50 (c) The employee is able to redeem any requested amount of 
 51 accrued annual leave, with no maximum cap, provided the employee 
 52 otherwise meets the requirements of this section. 
 53 (d) The public employer provides the employee with a 
 54 written statement confirming the one-time, nonrefundable nature 
 55 of the payout. 
 56 (3) A payout under this section is separate from and in 
 57 addition to the number of hours of accrued annual leave that may 
 58 be used for purposes of the Deferred Retirement Option Program 
 59 under s. 121.091. 
 60 (a) Leave paid out under this section must be deducted from 
 61 the employee’s accrued leave balances at the time of payment and 
 62 may not later be counted toward any terminal leave payout or 
 63 other leave conversion program. 
 64 (b) All payments must be made at the employee’s current 
 65 base rate of pay and are subject to applicable taxes. A payout 
 66 under this section is not terminal pay, severance pay, or 
 67 compensation for purposes of retirement calculations under 
 68 chapter 121. 
 69 (c) At the employee’s written request, the employer shall 
 70 remit the approved payout directly to a licensed closing or 
 71 escrow agent identified in the final closing disclosure or 
 72 settlement statement. 
 73 (d) Upon receipt of a complete and compliant request from 
 74 the employee, including a fully executed purchase-and-sale 
 75 agreement and a final closing disclosure, the employer shall 
 76 disburse funds by electronic wire transfer to the designated 
 77 closing or escrow agent no later than 3 business working days 
 78 after the scheduled closing date. 
 79 (e) Funds deposited under this section shall be disbursed 
 80 solely for allowable home purchase costs at closing. If the 
 81 transaction does not close, the escrow agent shall return the 
 82 funds to the employer with 5 business days, and the employee’s 
 83 leave balances shall be restored accordingly. 
 84 (4)(a) The Department of Management Services shall adopt 
 85 rules to