(A) There is established within the Department of Insurance a loss mitigation grant program. Funds may be appropriated to the grant program, and any funds so appropriated shall be used for the purpose of making grants to local governments or for the study and development of strategies for reducing loss of life and mitigating property losses due to hurricane, flood, earthquake, and fire. Grants to local governments shall be for the following purposes:

1. (1) implementation of building code enforcement programs including preliminary training of inspectors;
2. (2) conducting assessments to determine need for and desirability of making agreements to provide enforcement services pursuant to Section 6-9-60;

3. (3) providing technical assistance to and acting as an information resource for local governments in the development of proactive hazard mitigation strategies as they relate to reducing the loss of life and mitigating property losses due to natural hazards to include hurricane, flood, earthquake, and fire.

   Funds may be appropriated for a particular grant only after a majority affirmative vote on each grant by the advisory committee.

(B) The Department of Insurance may make application and enter into contracts for and accept grants in aid from federal and state government and private sources for the purposes of:

1. (1) implementation of building code enforcement programs including preliminary training of inspectors;
2. (2) conducting assessments to determine need for and desirability of making agreements to provide enforcement services pursuant to Section 6-9-60; and
3. (3) study and development of strategies for reducing loss of life and mitigating property losses due to hurricane, flood, earthquake, and fire.