PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Sunny Jo, Attorney at Legal Aid Society
0:38:22
ยท
3 min
Sunny Jo, an attorney with the Legal Aid Society, testified on several proposed bills related to property tax exemptions, recording of tax liens, and protection against deed theft. She highlighted the importance of informing homeowners about tax reduction programs and expressed concerns about recording tax liens on ACRIS.
- Supported Intro 782-A for providing critical information to homeowners about tax reductions
- Suggested amendments to Intro 783, 889, and 1086 to better protect homeowners and potential heirs
- Proposed docketing tax liens with the county clerk instead of recording on ACRIS to prevent targeting by predatory investors
Sunny Jo
0:38:22
Good morning.
0:38:22
My name is Sunny Jo.
0:38:24
I'm an attorney with the Legal Aid Society, and I didn't realize I only had 2 minutes, so I'm going to skip over a whole bunch of things about legal aid.
0:38:35
Based on our experience well, actually, I I should say this.
0:38:39
The Legal Aid Society has been at the forefront of advocating for the rights of homeowners at the city, state, and local levels since 2000 through our foreclosure prevention and home equity preservation project, which I am a part of.
0:38:53
We therefore appreciate the opportunity to testify today.
0:38:56
Based on our experience, many homeowners, in particular senior homeowners, continue to be unaware of the various property tax reductions and related programs for which they are eligible.
0:39:08
Intro 782 would provide an important step to more timely provide homeowners with this critical information.
0:39:15
In addition, intro 782 might add a provision to require DOF to, provide the same information to homeowners who elect to pay their taxes in person at, at a DOF office.
0:39:28
From what our clients tell us, too many times homeowners go to the DOF, offices to pay their taxes and not and are not given that information.
0:39:38
Intro 783 seeks to amend the existing law to require DOF to record on ACRIS tax liens once they exceed $5,000 and are past due, for a period of 3 years or more.
0:39:50
It has been our understanding that once DOF has sold arrears for their property taxes or water and sewer charges to a trust, such liens are recorded.
0:40:00
We have some concerns about recording of tax liens on ACRIS.
0:40:05
I think others have said this before, because such recordings have become a roadmap for predatory investors and scammers.
0:40:14
Properties where recorded tax liens are clearly identifiable as distressed properties, and as have and as such, have become targets for various deed theft schemes.
Justin Brannan
0:40:26
You could finish up.
Sunny Jo
0:40:28
Thank you.
0:40:30
So perhaps instead of recording tax liens on ACRA, such liens could be docketed with the county clerk, similar to how other liens and judgments are docketed.
0:40:39
Intro 889 would provide intro 889, the questionable transfers occur within much shorter periods than 30 years, and typically involving transfers to an LLC.
0:40:52
So, we would respectfully suggest that any transfers to an LLC be included in such notification.
0:40:59
And intro 1086, while such notifications, might strengthen the protection of vulnerable property owners against unauthorized deed transfers, the definition of interested parties doesn't seem to include heirs who have not yet started surrogate court proceedings.
0:41:16
And it is precisely those heirs who have become a primary target of predatory transfers.
0:41:22
Therefore, we respectfully, propose that the city council address how potential heirs could protect their, family homes.
0:41:32
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, CFPB, has developed guidelines on how potential heirs, for not on the mortgage yet can assert their rights as successors in interest, and perhaps UF could adopt a similar approach.
0:41:48
Thank you for the opportunity to testify today.