SF 269 (LSB 2396SS (1) 88)

SENATE FILE 269

BY  SEGEBART

A BILL FOR

An Act establishing a home modification grant program within the department on aging, and providing an appropriation.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  231.67  Home modification grant program —— established —— requirements.
   1.  As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
   a.  “Accommodate” means to make a residence accessible for a qualified person in a manner that is necessary due to the qualified person’s age, disability, or condition.
   b.  “Medical provider” means a physician, physician assistant, advanced registered nurse practitioner, physical therapist, or occupational therapist.
   c.  “Modification or improvement” means a modification of or improvement to a qualified person’s residence that is certified by a medical provider as being necessary to accommodate the qualified person.
   (1)  A “modification or improvement” includes one or more of the following:
   (a)  Providing for or installing a nonstep entrance.
   (b)  Providing for or installing exterior or interior ramps.
   (c)  Providing for or installing stairway lifts or elevators.
   (d)  Providing for or installing handrails or grab bars, or the reinforcement of grab bars.
   (e)  Providing for or installing hardware for doors.
   (f)  Widening exterior doors or interior hallways to more than thirty-six inches.
   (g)  Widening interior doors to more than thirty-two inches.
   (h)  Modifying electrical components, including moving electrical outlets and switches.
   (i)  Modifying bathrooms, including but not limited to providing for the modification or installation of accessible toilets, bathtubs, showers, plumbing, or fixtures.
   (j)  Modifying kitchens including but not limited to providing for the modification or installation of accessible countertops, cabinets, appliances, plumbing, or fixtures.
   (k)  Modifying bedrooms including but not limited to the relocation of a bedroom to an accessible space in the residence.
   (2)  A “modification or improvement” may consist of improvements to real property following a modification or improvement specified in subparagraph (1).
   (3)  A “modification or improvement” does not include the construction of a new residence, or an addition to or modification of an existing residence that expands the living area but is not otherwise described in this paragraph “c”, subparagraph (1).
   d.  “Qualified homeowner” means a person who meets all of the following conditions:
   (1)  Is the owner of residential real property in this state, including a condominium, that is the primary residence of the owner.
   (2)  Is a qualified person or resides with a spouse or dependent who is a qualified person.
   e.  “Qualified person” means a person whose income does not exceed three hundred percent of the federal poverty level and who meets one of the following conditions:
   (1)  Is at least sixty-five years of age.
   (2)  Is living with a disability, as defined in 42 U.S.C. §12102.
   (3)  Has a chronic condition the prognosis for which requires a permanent modification to the qualified person’s residence.
   2.  a.  A home modification grant program is established in the department. The department shall administer the program and provide grants through expenditure of funds appropriated to the department for this purpose. Grants shall be made, in amounts not to exceed five thousand dollars per primary residence, to qualified homeowners for the purposes of modification or improvement to a qualified person’s residence to accommodate the qualified person.
   b.  The department shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A to administer the program.
   c.  Notwithstanding section 8.33, funds appropriated to the department for the purposes of the home modification grant program under this section that remain unencumbered or unobligated at the close of a fiscal year shall not revert but shall remain available for expenditure for the purposes designated.
    Sec. 2.  HOME MODIFICATION GRANT PROGRAM —— APPROPRIATION.  There is appropriated from the general fund of the state to the department on aging for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2019, and ending June 30, 2020, the following amount, or so much thereof as is necessary, to be used for the purpose designated:
   To provide home modification grants pursuant to, and for the administration of, the home modification grant program established in section 231.67:
   ...................................................................... $  1,000,000
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill establishes a home modification grant program to be administered by the department on aging. To receive a grant under the program, a qualified homeowner must be the owner of a residential real property in the state that is the primary residence of the owner and be a qualified person or reside with a spouse or dependent who is a qualified person. Under the bill, a “qualified person” means a person whose income does not exceed 300 percent of the federal poverty level and meets one of the following conditions: is at least 65 years of age, is living with a disability as defined under federal law, or has a chronic condition the prognosis for which requires a permanent modification to the qualified person’s residence. Grants under the program are limited to not more than $5,000 per primary residence and may only be used for modifications or improvements to a qualified person’s residence that are certified by a medical provider as necessary to accommodate the qualified person. Under the bill, a “modification or improvement” may consist of improvements to real property following a specified modification or improvement but does not include the construction of a new residence or an addition to or modification of an existing residence that expands the living area but is not otherwise described as an allowable modification or improvement under the bill.
   The bill includes an appropriation to the department on aging to provide grants and for the administration of the grant program.