Establishing a home modification grant program within the department on aging, and providing an appropriation

This bill establishes a home modification grant program to be administered by the department on aging (IDA). To receive a grant under the program, a qualified homeowner must have an income at or below the annual Iowa median household income, 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 who meets one of the following conditions: is at least 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” 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 makes an appropriation from the surplus of the general fund of the state remaining at the conclusion of each fiscal year, prior to the crediting or appropriating of the surplus to any other fund or for any other purpose, to IDA in an amount up to $1 million to provide state matching funds for federal funds received in the prior fiscal year for the home modification grant program. IDA shall report the receipt of any federal funding to the department of management upon receipt of such funds and the department of management shall determine the amount of funds to be appropriated based on the reported amount of federal funds received.