Florida Senate - 2015                                    SB 1130
       
       
        
       By Senator Simmons
       
       
       
       
       
       10-00492B-15                                          20151130__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to windstorm premium discounts;
    3         amending s. 627.711, F.S.; providing that an insurer
    4         issuing a policy to a new policyholder may accept as
    5         valid only specified uniform mitigation verification
    6         inspection forms; providing an effective date.
    7          
    8  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
    9  
   10         Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
   11  627.711, Florida Statutes, is amended, and paragraph (c) is
   12  added to that subsection, to read:
   13         627.711 Notice of premium discounts for hurricane loss
   14  mitigation; uniform mitigation verification inspection form.—
   15         (2)(a) The Financial Services Commission shall develop by
   16  rule a uniform mitigation verification inspection form that
   17  shall be used by all insurers when submitted by policyholders
   18  for the purpose of factoring discounts for wind insurance. In
   19  developing the form, the commission shall seek input from
   20  insurance, construction, and building code representatives.
   21  Further, the commission shall provide guidance as to the length
   22  of time the inspection results are valid. An insurer shall
   23  accept as valid a uniform mitigation verification inspection
   24  form signed by the following authorized mitigation inspectors:
   25         1. A home inspector licensed under s. 468.8314 who has
   26  completed at least 3 hours of hurricane mitigation training
   27  approved by the Construction Industry Licensing Board which
   28  includes hurricane mitigation techniques and compliance with the
   29  uniform mitigation verification inspection form and completion
   30  of a proficiency exam;
   31         2. A building code inspector certified under s. 468.607;
   32         3. A general, building, or residential contractor licensed
   33  under s. 489.111;
   34         4. A professional engineer licensed under s. 471.015;
   35         5. A professional architect licensed under s. 481.213; or
   36         6. Any other individual or entity recognized by the insurer
   37  as possessing the necessary qualifications to properly complete
   38  a uniform mitigation verification inspection form.
   39         (c) An insurer issuing a policy to a new policyholder may
   40  accept as valid only the uniform mitigation verification
   41  inspection form:
   42         1. Most recently adopted by the commission by rule; or
   43         2. Previously adopted by the commission by rule if the form
   44  was completed within 5 years preceding the effective date of the
   45  new policy.
   46         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2015.