La. Admin. Code tit. 37 § XIII-18205

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 11, November 20, 2024

Section XIII-18205 - LFHP Grants

A. Grant Eligibility. To be eligible for a LFHP grant, an applicant must meet the following requirements:

1. The home must be a residence with a homestead exemption that is not a condominium or mobile home.

2. The home must be in good repair unless damaged by a hurricane, non-hurricane wind, or hail.

3. The homeowner, with the assistance of an LFHP-approved contractor and home evaluator, must fortify the home's roof to meet or exceed the IBHS FORTIFIED roof standard.

4. The homeowner must provide the LFHP proof of a wind insurance policy on the home. Additionally, if the home is in a designated SFHA, the homeowner must provide the LFHP proof of a flood insurance policy on the home.

5. The homeowner must obtain and pay for all permits required by law or ordinance for the construction.

6. The homeowner must arrange and pay for inspections required by law or ordinance and the terms of the grant, which shall include inspection pursuant to R.S. 22:1483(C)(3).

7. The work must comply with applicable building codes.

8. Unless granted an extension by the commissioner, the LFHP project must be completed within 90 days from the date of the notification issued by the commissioner that the applicant is eligible to proceed with the grant process. Notice will be delivered to the applicant through electronic means. Failure to timely complete the LFHP project may result in a forfeiture of the grant.

9. The commissioner may grant a homeowner an extension of time to complete the LFHP project if an extension is timely requested in writing and the homeowner provides sufficient proof that extenuating circumstances caused or will likely cause delays in the completion of the LFHP. Whether to grant or deny a request for an extension of time shall be subject to the commissioner's sole discretion.

B. Grant Application Process

1. To apply for an LFHP grant, a homeowner must complete and submit an online grant application to the LFHP. The online grant application portal will be accessible via www.ldi.la.gov/fortifyhomes.

2. Unless otherwise notified by the commissioner, the homeowner will be responsible for paying for a certified home evaluator of the homeowner's choice to provide an IBHS home review evaluation on the home seeking to be fortified. A list of certified home evaluators can be found at www.ldi.la.gov/fortifyhomes.

3. The home evaluator shall determine whether the home meets a minimum structural standard on a pass-or-fail basis before identifying all improvements required to meet the IBHS FORTIFIED roof standard. Thereafter, the home evaluator shall submit a report to the LFHP for approval.

4. The homeowner must access the LFHP online application portal and obtain bids from not less than three LFHP-approved contractors of their choice to improve the home to meet the IBHS FORTIFIED roof standard. The commissioner may waive the minimum number of bids required for the application to reflect the number of contractors available in the area or for other good cause shown. A list of eligible contractors can be found at www.ldi.la.gov/fortifyhomes.

C. Awarding of Grants. The LFHP will award grants through a lottery process, subject to the availability of funding. The LFHP will review all applications for completeness and perform appropriate audits to verify the accuracy of the information in the application and whether the applicant meets the eligibility criteria. Applicants will have 30 days from selection in the lottery process to provide information to verify eligibility. LFHP-approved contractors may not begin work on a home until selected by the applicant and the bid process is complete. The LFHP may extend the time for review and approval of applications as it deems necessary. The LFHP will notify an applicant if the time for review and approval of the application has been extended.

D. Maximum Grant Award. The amount of a grant award shall be equivalent to the actual cost of retrofitting the roof to comply with the IBHS FORTIFIED roof standard, not to exceed $10,000. The commissioner may periodically update the amount of the grant award.

E. Release of Funds. Grant funds will only be released on behalf of an approved applicant once an IBHS FORTIFIED certificate has been issued for the home. Funds will be paid by the LFHP, on behalf of the homeowner, directly to the contractor who performed the work to fortify the roof.

F. Grant Award Process

1. Once the LFHP approves the grant application, the homeowner may contract with an LFHP-approved contractor to fortify the home. Once the LFHP-approved contractor completes the fortification work on the home, they must submit a copy of the signed contract to the LFHP with a final invoice. The final invoice must include written verification that the work was completed to the FORTIFIED roof standard and that the total invoiced amount does not include any costs or fees incurred by the contractor for those items identified in R.S. 22:1483.1(B).

2. The home evaluator will perform all required evaluations to confirm that the LFHP-approved contractor completed the work according to the IBHS FORTIFIED roof standard. The IBHS will review the evaluation and determine whether to issue a FORTIFIED designation, which is a written certificate that the home meets the FORTIFIED roof standard.

3. The LFHP will pay the LFHP-approved contractor's costs covered by the grant, and the homeowner shall pay the remaining costs to the LFHP-approved contractor.

4. The LFHP reserves the right to conduct random inspections.

5. To timely manage the processing of grant applications or to meet funding limitations, the LFHP may establish specific periods when it will accept grant applications.

G. The commissioner may create pilot projects as needed to establish a sustainable distribution system of the program in any geographic area within the State of Louisiana.

H. Coordination with Other Funding Sources

1. Applicants shall report any funds received or anticipated from insurance, disaster relief, or other sources to ensure that the grant only covers actual costs.

2. Insurers shall not reduce settlement payments based on the payment or an LFHP grant.

La. Admin. Code tit. 37, § XIII-18205

Promulgated by the Department of Insurance, Office of the Commissioner, LR 49700 (4/1/2023), Amended LR 501500 (10/1/2024).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 22:11 and R.S. 22:1483.1.