(a) (1) The owner of an insurable dwelling may apply for a grant under the Strengthen Arkansas Homes Program if the owner of an insurable dwelling meets the eligibility requirements as stated by the State Insurance Department for each grant type, either FORTIFIED Roof or FORTIFIED Silver.(2) The eligibility requirements under subdivision (a)(1) of this section shall include without limitation:(A) That the residential property owner shall own an insurable dwelling that has been granted a homestead exemption;(B) That the owner of the insurable dwelling shall claim his or her primary residence in a county where grants are being approved;(C) That an insurable dwelling to be constructed or retrofitted shall be an owner-occupied single-family primary residence;(D) (i) That the insurable dwelling shall be in good repair unless damaged by a catastrophic wind event or hail, and the insurable dwelling owner is eligible to receive a grant under this subchapter.(ii) The home repair shall not be part of an insurance claim;(E) (i) That an evaluator certified by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety shall: (a) Prequalify the insurable dwelling as suitable for construction or retrofitting under the Strengthen Arkansas Homes Program; and (b) Identify improvements required to achieve an Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety FORTIFIED Roof designation, FORTIFIED Silver designation, or a successor designation or a similar standard approved by rule by the Insurance Commissioner.(ii) The owner of the insurable dwelling shall:(a) Select the evaluator under subdivision (a)(2)(E)(i) of this section from a list provided by the department under the Strengthen Arkansas Homes Program; and(b) Pay the evaluator's fee out-of-pocket; and(F) That the owner of the insurable dwelling shall:(i) (a) Obtain bids from at least three (3) contractors certified by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety and approved under the Strengthen Arkansas Homes Program. (b) If three (3) contractors certified by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety are not available to provide bids in a geographic area where grants are offered, then a bid equivalent to the number of available contractors certified by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety is acceptable under this subdivision (a)(2)(F)(i);(ii) Construct or retrofit the insurable dwelling to the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety FORTIFIED Roof designation or FORTIFIED Silver designation, or a successor designation or a similar standard approved by rule by the commissioner, which shall include a hail supplement;(iii) (a) Provide proof of an in-force policy providing wind insurance on the insurable dwelling. (b) If the owner of the insurable dwelling does not have wind insurance at the time of the grant application, he or she shall provide proof of wind insurance coverage within thirty (30) days from the time the insurable dwelling receives certification from the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety; and(iv) (a) If the insurable dwelling is in a Special Flood Hazard Area, provide proof of an in-force flood insurance policy. (b) The flood insurance policy under subdivision (a)(2)(F)(iv)(a) of this section may be from the National Flood Insurance Program or a private carrier.
(1) The owner of an insurable dwelling may apply for a grant under the Strengthen Arkansas Homes Program if the owner of an insurable dwelling meets the eligibility requirements as stated by the State Insurance Department for each grant type, either FORTIFIED Roof or FORTIFIED Silver.
(2) The eligibility requirements under subdivision (a)(1) of this section shall include without limitation:(A) That the residential property owner shall own an insurable dwelling that has been granted a homestead exemption;(B) That the owner of the insurable dwelling shall claim his or her primary residence in a county where grants are being approved;(C) That an insurable dwelling to be constructed or retrofitted shall be an owner-occupied single-family primary residence;(D) (i) That the insurable dwelling shall be in good repair unless damaged by a catastrophic wind event or hail, and the insurable dwelling owner is eligible to receive a grant under this subchapter.(ii) The home repair shall not be part of an insurance claim;(E) (i) That an evaluator certified by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety shall: (a) Prequalify the insurable dwelling as suitable for construction or retrofitting under the Strengthen Arkansas Homes Program; and (b) Identify improvements required to achieve an Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety FORTIFIED Roof designation, FORTIFIED Silver designation, or a successor designation or a similar standard approved by rule by the Insurance Commissioner.(ii) The owner of the insurable dwelling shall:(a) Select the evaluator under subdivision (a)(2)(E)(i) of this section from a list provided by the department under the Strengthen Arkansas Homes Program; and(b) Pay the evaluator's fee out-of-pocket; and(F) That the owner of the insurable dwelling shall:(i) (a) Obtain bids from at least three (3) contractors certified by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety and approved under the Strengthen Arkansas Homes Program. (b) If three (3) contractors certified by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety are not available to provide bids in a geographic area where grants are offered, then a bid equivalent to the number of available contractors certified by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety is acceptable under this subdivision (a)(2)(F)(i);(ii) Construct or retrofit the insurable dwelling to the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety FORTIFIED Roof designation or FORTIFIED Silver designation, or a successor designation or a similar standard approved by rule by the commissioner, which shall include a hail supplement;(iii) (a) Provide proof of an in-force policy providing wind insurance on the insurable dwelling. (b) If the owner of the insurable dwelling does not have wind insurance at the time of the grant application, he or she shall provide proof of wind insurance coverage within thirty (30) days from the time the insurable dwelling receives certification from the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety; and(iv) (a) If the insurable dwelling is in a Special Flood Hazard Area, provide proof of an in-force flood insurance policy. (b) The flood insurance policy under subdivision (a)(2)(F)(iv)(a) of this section may be from the National Flood Insurance Program or a private carrier.
(A) That the residential property owner shall own an insurable dwelling that has been granted a homestead exemption;
(B) That the owner of the insurable dwelling shall claim his or her primary residence in a county where grants are being approved;
(C) That an insurable dwelling to be constructed or retrofitted shall be an owner-occupied single-family primary residence;
(D) (i) That the insurable dwelling shall be in good repair unless damaged by a catastrophic wind event or hail, and the insurable dwelling owner is eligible to receive a grant under this subchapter.(ii) The home repair shall not be part of an insurance claim;
(i) That the insurable dwelling shall be in good repair unless damaged by a catastrophic wind event or hail, and the insurable dwelling owner is eligible to receive a grant under this subchapter.
(ii) The home repair shall not be part of an insurance claim;
(E) (i) That an evaluator certified by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety shall: (a) Prequalify the insurable dwelling as suitable for construction or retrofitting under the Strengthen Arkansas Homes Program; and (b) Identify improvements required to achieve an Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety FORTIFIED Roof designation, FORTIFIED Silver designation, or a successor designation or a similar standard approved by rule by the Insurance Commissioner.(ii) The owner of the insurable dwelling shall:(a) Select the evaluator under subdivision (a)(2)(E)(i) of this section from a list provided by the department under the Strengthen Arkansas Homes Program; and(b) Pay the evaluator's fee out-of-pocket; and(F) That the owner of the insurable dwelling shall:(i) (a) Obtain bids from at least three (3) contractors certified by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety and approved under the Strengthen Arkansas Homes Program. (b) If three (3) contractors certified by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety are not available to provide bids in a geographic area where grants are offered, then a bid equivalent to the number of available contractors certified by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety is acceptable under this subdivision (a)(2)(F)(i);(ii) Construct or retrofit the insurable dwelling to the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety FORTIFIED Roof designation or FORTIFIED Silver designation, or a successor designation or a similar standard approved by rule by the commissioner, which shall include a hail supplement;(iii) (a) Provide proof of an in-force policy providing wind insurance on the insurable dwelling. (b) If the owner of the insurable dwelling does not have wind insurance at the time of the grant application, he or she shall provide proof of wind insurance coverage within thirty (30) days from the time the insurable dwelling receives certification from the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety; and(iv) (a) If the insurable dwelling is in a Special Flood Hazard Area, provide proof of an in-force flood insurance policy. (b) The flood insurance policy under subdivision (a)(2)(F)(iv)(a) of this section may be from the National Flood Insurance Program or a private carrier.
(i) That an evaluator certified by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety shall: (a) Prequalify the insurable dwelling as suitable for construction or retrofitting under the Strengthen Arkansas Homes Program; and (b) Identify improvements required to achieve an Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety FORTIFIED Roof designation, FORTIFIED Silver designation, or a successor designation or a similar standard approved by rule by the Insurance Commissioner.
(a) Prequalify the insurable dwelling as suitable for construction or retrofitting under the Strengthen Arkansas Homes Program; and
(b) Identify improvements required to achieve an Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety FORTIFIED Roof designation, FORTIFIED Silver designation, or a successor designation or a similar standard approved by rule by the Insurance Commissioner.
(ii) The owner of the insurable dwelling shall:(a) Select the evaluator under subdivision (a)(2)(E)(i) of this section from a list provided by the department under the Strengthen Arkansas Homes Program; and(b) Pay the evaluator's fee out-of-pocket; and(F) That the owner of the insurable dwelling shall:(i) (a) Obtain bids from at least three (3) contractors certified by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety and approved under the Strengthen Arkansas Homes Program. (b) If three (3) contractors certified by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety are not available to provide bids in a geographic area where grants are offered, then a bid equivalent to the number of available contractors certified by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety is acceptable under this subdivision (a)(2)(F)(i);(ii) Construct or retrofit the insurable dwelling to the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety FORTIFIED Roof designation or FORTIFIED Silver designation, or a successor designation or a similar standard approved by rule by the commissioner, which shall include a hail supplement;(iii) (a) Provide proof of an in-force policy providing wind insurance on the insurable dwelling. (b) If the owner of the insurable dwelling does not have wind insurance at the time of the grant application, he or she shall provide proof of wind insurance coverage within thirty (30) days from the time the insurable dwelling receives certification from the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety; and(iv) (a) If the insurable dwelling is in a Special Flood Hazard Area, provide proof of an in-force flood insurance policy. (b) The flood insurance policy under subdivision (a)(2)(F)(iv)(a) of this section may be from the National Flood Insurance Program or a private carrier.
(a) Select the evaluator under subdivision (a)(2)(E)(i) of this section from a list provided by the department under the Strengthen Arkansas Homes Program; and
(b) Pay the evaluator's fee out-of-pocket; and(F) That the owner of the insurable dwelling shall:(i) (a) Obtain bids from at least three (3) contractors certified by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety and approved under the Strengthen Arkansas Homes Program. (b) If three (3) contractors certified by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety are not available to provide bids in a geographic area where grants are offered, then a bid equivalent to the number of available contractors certified by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety is acceptable under this subdivision (a)(2)(F)(i);(ii) Construct or retrofit the insurable dwelling to the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety FORTIFIED Roof designation or FORTIFIED Silver designation, or a successor designation or a similar standard approved by rule by the commissioner, which shall include a hail supplement;(iii) (a) Provide proof of an in-force policy providing wind insurance on the insurable dwelling. (b) If the owner of the insurable dwelling does not have wind insurance at the time of the grant application, he or she shall provide proof of wind insurance coverage within thirty (30) days from the time the insurable dwelling receives certification from the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety; and(iv) (a) If the insurable dwelling is in a Special Flood Hazard Area, provide proof of an in-force flood insurance policy. (b) The flood insurance policy under subdivision (a)(2)(F)(iv)(a) of this section may be from the National Flood Insurance Program or a private carrier.
(F) That the owner of the insurable dwelling shall:(i) (a) Obtain bids from at least three (3) contractors certified by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety and approved under the Strengthen Arkansas Homes Program. (b) If three (3) contractors certified by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety are not available to provide bids in a geographic area where grants are offered, then a bid equivalent to the number of available contractors certified by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety is acceptable under this subdivision (a)(2)(F)(i);(ii) Construct or retrofit the insurable dwelling to the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety FORTIFIED Roof designation or FORTIFIED Silver designation, or a successor designation or a similar standard approved by rule by the commissioner, which shall include a hail supplement;(iii) (a) Provide proof of an in-force policy providing wind insurance on the insurable dwelling. (b) If the owner of the insurable dwelling does not have wind insurance at the time of the grant application, he or she shall provide proof of wind insurance coverage within thirty (30) days from the time the insurable dwelling receives certification from the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety; and(iv) (a) If the insurable dwelling is in a Special Flood Hazard Area, provide proof of an in-force flood insurance policy. (b) The flood insurance policy under subdivision (a)(2)(F)(iv)(a) of this section may be from the National Flood Insurance Program or a private carrier.
(i) (a) Obtain bids from at least three (3) contractors certified by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety and approved under the Strengthen Arkansas Homes Program. (b) If three (3) contractors certified by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety are not available to provide bids in a geographic area where grants are offered, then a bid equivalent to the number of available contractors certified by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety is acceptable under this subdivision (a)(2)(F)(i);
(a) Obtain bids from at least three (3) contractors certified by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety and approved under the Strengthen Arkansas Homes Program.
(b) If three (3) contractors certified by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety are not available to provide bids in a geographic area where grants are offered, then a bid equivalent to the number of available contractors certified by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety is acceptable under this subdivision (a)(2)(F)(i);
(ii) Construct or retrofit the insurable dwelling to the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety FORTIFIED Roof designation or FORTIFIED Silver designation, or a successor designation or a similar standard approved by rule by the commissioner, which shall include a hail supplement;
(iii) (a) Provide proof of an in-force policy providing wind insurance on the insurable dwelling. (b) If the owner of the insurable dwelling does not have wind insurance at the time of the grant application, he or she shall provide proof of wind insurance coverage within thirty (30) days from the time the insurable dwelling receives certification from the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety; and
(a) Provide proof of an in-force policy providing wind insurance on the insurable dwelling.
(b) If the owner of the insurable dwelling does not have wind insurance at the time of the grant application, he or she shall provide proof of wind insurance coverage within thirty (30) days from the time the insurable dwelling receives certification from the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety; and
(iv) (a) If the insurable dwelling is in a Special Flood Hazard Area, provide proof of an in-force flood insurance policy. (b) The flood insurance policy under subdivision (a)(2)(F)(iv)(a) of this section may be from the National Flood Insurance Program or a private carrier.
(a) If the insurable dwelling is in a Special Flood Hazard Area, provide proof of an in-force flood insurance policy.
(b) The flood insurance policy under subdivision (a)(2)(F)(iv)(a) of this section may be from the National Flood Insurance Program or a private carrier.
(b) An applicant for a Strengthen Arkansas Homes Program grant under this subchapter shall file an application with the department in the form and manner prescribed by the commissioner.
(c) Documents, materials, and other information submitted to the department by the owner of an insurable dwelling or an insurance company in support of a Strengthen Arkansas Homes Program grant application shall be confidential and not subject to the Freedom of Information Act of 1967, § 25-19-101 et seq.
(d) (1) Documents, materials, and other information submitted to the department by the owner of an insurable dwelling or an insurance company shall not be:(A) Subject to a public records request under the Freedom of Information Act of 1967, § 25-19-101 et seq.;(B) Subject to subpoena;(C) Subject to discovery; or(D) Admissible in evidence in a private civil action.(2) Subdivision (d)(1) of this section does not:(A) Apply to the disclosure of documents, materials, or other information to Arkansas Legislative Audit or to the Legislative Joint Auditing Committee as otherwise authorized by law; or(B) Preclude the subpoena authority under § 10-3-411 or § 10-4-421.
(1) Documents, materials, and other information submitted to the department by the owner of an insurable dwelling or an insurance company shall not be:(A) Subject to a public records request under the Freedom of Information Act of 1967, § 25-19-101 et seq.;(B) Subject to subpoena;(C) Subject to discovery; or(D) Admissible in evidence in a private civil action.
(A) Subject to a public records request under the Freedom of Information Act of 1967, § 25-19-101 et seq.;
(B) Subject to subpoena;
(C) Subject to discovery; or
(D) Admissible in evidence in a private civil action.
(2) Subdivision (d)(1) of this section does not:(A) Apply to the disclosure of documents, materials, or other information to Arkansas Legislative Audit or to the Legislative Joint Auditing Committee as otherwise authorized by law; or(B) Preclude the subpoena authority under § 10-3-411 or § 10-4-421.
(A) Apply to the disclosure of documents, materials, or other information to Arkansas Legislative Audit or to the Legislative Joint Auditing Committee as otherwise authorized by law; or
(B) Preclude the subpoena authority under § 10-3-411 or § 10-4-421.
(e) The owner of an insurable dwelling shall use Strengthen Arkansas Homes Program grant funds to retrofit an insurable dwelling to resist loss due to a catastrophic wind event or hail.
(f) (1) Any mitigation project under this subchapter shall be completed within three (3) months of the date the applicant receives notice of the Strengthen Arkansas Homes Program grant approval.(2) Failure to complete the project in the time allotted under subdivision (f)(1) of this section may result in forfeiture of the Strengthen Arkansas Homes Program grant.
(1) Any mitigation project under this subchapter shall be completed within three (3) months of the date the applicant receives notice of the Strengthen Arkansas Homes Program grant approval.
(2) Failure to complete the project in the time allotted under subdivision (f)(1) of this section may result in forfeiture of the Strengthen Arkansas Homes Program grant.
(g) (1) Strengthen Arkansas Homes Program grant funds shall only be paid once a certificate of compliance has been issued for the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety FORTIFIED Roof designation, FORTIFIED Silver designation, or a successor designation or a similar standard approved by rule of the commissioner.(2) The Strengthen Arkansas Homes Program grant funds shall be paid by the commissioner, on behalf of the owner of the insurable dwelling, directly to the contractor who performed the loss mitigation work.
(1) Strengthen Arkansas Homes Program grant funds shall only be paid once a certificate of compliance has been issued for the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety FORTIFIED Roof designation, FORTIFIED Silver designation, or a successor designation or a similar standard approved by rule of the commissioner.
(2) The Strengthen Arkansas Homes Program grant funds shall be paid by the commissioner, on behalf of the owner of the insurable dwelling, directly to the contractor who performed the loss mitigation work.
(h) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (h)(2) of this section, the department shall accept Strengthen Arkansas Homes Program grant applications on a first-come, first-served basis.(2) An application submitted under subdivision (h)(1) of this section shall be given priority if the applicant:(A) Lives in a location that, based on historical data, has a higher susceptibility to catastrophic wind events or hail; or(B) Meets any other criteria the commissioner determines is appropriate to meet the purpose of the Strengthen Arkansas Homes Program.
(1) Except as provided in subdivision (h)(2) of this section, the department shall accept Strengthen Arkansas Homes Program grant applications on a first-come, first-served basis.
(2) An application submitted under subdivision (h)(1) of this section shall be given priority if the applicant:(A) Lives in a location that, based on historical data, has a higher susceptibility to catastrophic wind events or hail; or(B) Meets any other criteria the commissioner determines is appropriate to meet the purpose of the Strengthen Arkansas Homes Program.
(A) Lives in a location that, based on historical data, has a higher susceptibility to catastrophic wind events or hail; or
(B) Meets any other criteria the commissioner determines is appropriate to meet the purpose of the Strengthen Arkansas Homes Program.
(i) The department may conduct a random audit of funds, records, and properties to detect fraud or for any other reason related to the administration of the Strengthen Arkansas Homes Program.