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Florida’s Attorney General wants your advice about how to spend 300 million dollars. The money is part of a settlement with the nation’s largest banks over some questionable lending practices. As Whitney Ray tells us, the state is taking suggestions online.

It’s a 300 million dollar question, and the state wants your answer. Attorney General Pam Bondi is asking the public how to spend settlement money from the nation’s largest lenders. The five banks agreed to pay Florida eight billion dollars as restitution for shady lending practices that hurt the state’s housing market.

Most of the eight billion will go straight to homeowners for loan modifications and principal reductions, but 300 million will go directly to the state, and the Attorney General gets to decide how the money is spent.”

People can email their suggestions using this website, but there are limits on how the money can be spent.

“It has to be used to ameliorate the effects of the foreclosure crisis, to enhance law enforcement efforts to fight fraud and to go to other housing related programs,” said Jenn Meale, a spokesman for the Attorney General.

Kris Knab, runs a nonprofit that gives free legal advice to people facing foreclosure. It’s kept hundreds in their homes, but has had to turn away more than its help.

“We know from all the studies that at best we are meeting 20 percent of the need,” said Knab.

Knab’s charity is just one of 30 working at the direction of Florida Legal Services. Kent Spuhler is the director. Spuhler says the money could be used to stop foreclosures earlier in the process, setup a statewide help hotline and offer counseling to families in financial crisis.

“I think she can put together an excellent model for the nation if she really carries it out,” said Spuhler.

Spuhler submitted a 32 million dollar plan to the attorney general. People can send their own suggestions now through May 14th. To make a suggestion visit the Attorney General’s website at myfloridalegal.com. People who receive help from the settlement will still have the right to sue if they feel they’ve been ripped off by their lender.