Sec. 4.

(1) An applicant who meets all the following criteria is eligible to purchase vacant property under this act:

(a) The applicant intends to occupy the vacant property by constructing a home on the premises.

(b) The applicant is employed and has been employed for the immediately preceding 1-year period or is otherwise able to meet the financial commitments under this act as determined by the local governmental unit.

(c) The applicant does not meet any of the following criteria:

(i) The applicant has been sentenced or imprisoned within the immediately preceding 1-year period for a felony conviction.

(ii) The applicant is currently on probation or parole for a felony conviction.

(iii) The applicant has been sentenced, imprisoned, on probation, or on parole in the immediately preceding 5-year period for a felony violation of section 7401, 7401a, 7402, 7410, or 7410a of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.7401, 333.7401a, 333.7402, 333.7410, and 333.7410a.

(iv) The applicant has been convicted of a violation or attempted violation of section 520b, 520c, 520d, or 520g of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.520b, 750.520c, 750.520d, and 750.520g.

(2) The local governmental unit may require substance abuse testing of an applicant as a condition of purchasing the property. If the applicant tests positive for substance abuse, then that individual shall enter into a substance abuse treatment program, as determined by the local governmental unit. The local governmental unit may contract with and seek assistance from this state, the department of community health, or any other entity to implement this subsection.

History: 1999, Act 129, Imd. Eff. July 23, 1999