Florida Senate - 2021                                    SB 1648
       
       
        
       By Senator Powell
       
       
       
       
       
       30-00742A-21                                          20211648__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to waiver of fees for affordable
    3         housing construction; amending s. 553.80, F.S.;
    4         authorizing local governments to waive fees associated
    5         with enforcing the Florida Building Code for costs
    6         relating to the construction of affordable housing;
    7         authorizing local governments to adopt ordinances
    8         exempting permits relating to the construction of
    9         affordable housing from certain fees; providing an
   10         effective date.
   11          
   12  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   13  
   14         Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subsection (7) of section
   15  553.80, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
   16         553.80 Enforcement.—
   17         (7)(a) The governing bodies of local governments may
   18  provide a schedule of reasonable fees, as authorized by s.
   19  125.56(2) or s. 166.222 and this section, for enforcing this
   20  part. These fees, and any fines or investment earnings related
   21  to the fees, shall be used solely for carrying out the local
   22  government’s responsibilities in enforcing the Florida Building
   23  Code. When providing a schedule of reasonable fees, the total
   24  estimated annual revenue derived from fees, and the fines and
   25  investment earnings related to the fees, may not exceed the
   26  total estimated annual costs of allowable activities. Any
   27  unexpended balances shall be carried forward to future years for
   28  allowable activities or shall be refunded at the discretion of
   29  the local government. A local government may not carry forward
   30  an amount exceeding the average of its operating budget for
   31  enforcing the Florida Building Code for the previous 4 fiscal
   32  years. For purposes of this subsection, the term “operating
   33  budget” does not include reserve amounts. Any amount exceeding
   34  this limit must be used as authorized in subparagraph 2.
   35  However, a local government which established, as of January 1,
   36  2019, a Building Inspections Fund Advisory Board consisting of
   37  five members from the construction stakeholder community and
   38  carries an unexpended balance in excess of the average of its
   39  operating budget for the previous 4 fiscal years may continue to
   40  carry such excess funds forward upon the recommendation of the
   41  advisory board. The basis for a fee structure for allowable
   42  activities shall relate to the level of service provided by the
   43  local government and shall include consideration for refunding
   44  fees due to reduced services based on services provided as
   45  prescribed by s. 553.791, but not provided by the local
   46  government. Fees charged shall be consistently applied. However,
   47  a local government may waive fees associated with enforcing the
   48  Florida Building Code for costs related to the construction of
   49  affordable housing under chapter 420.
   50         1. As used in this subsection, the phrase “enforcing the
   51  Florida Building Code” includes the direct costs and reasonable
   52  indirect costs associated with review of building plans,
   53  building inspections, reinspections, and building permit
   54  processing; building code enforcement; and fire inspections
   55  associated with new construction. The phrase may also include
   56  training costs associated with the enforcement of the Florida
   57  Building Code and enforcement action pertaining to unlicensed
   58  contractor activity to the extent not funded by other user fees.
   59         2. A local government must use any excess funds that it is
   60  prohibited from carrying forward to rebate and reduce fees.
   61         3. The following activities may not be funded with fees
   62  adopted for enforcing the Florida Building Code:
   63         a. Planning and zoning or other general government
   64  activities.
   65         b. Inspections of public buildings for a reduced fee or no
   66  fee.
   67         c. Public information requests, community functions,
   68  boards, and any program not directly related to enforcement of
   69  the Florida Building Code.
   70         d. Enforcement and implementation of any other local
   71  ordinance, excluding validly adopted local amendments to the
   72  Florida Building Code and excluding any local ordinance directly
   73  related to enforcing the Florida Building Code as defined in
   74  subparagraph 1.
   75         4. A local government shall use recognized management,
   76  accounting, and oversight practices to ensure that fees, fines,
   77  and investment earnings generated under this subsection are
   78  maintained and allocated or used solely for the purposes
   79  described in subparagraph 1.
   80         5. The local enforcement agency, independent district, or
   81  special district may not require at any time, including at the
   82  time of application for a permit, the payment of any additional
   83  fees, charges, or expenses associated with:
   84         a. Providing proof of licensure pursuant to chapter 489;
   85         b. Recording or filing a license issued pursuant to this
   86  chapter;
   87         c. Providing, recording, or filing evidence of workers’
   88  compensation insurance coverage as required by chapter 440; or
   89         d. Charging surcharges or other similar fees not directly
   90  related to enforcing the Florida Building Code.
   91         6.A local government may adopt an ordinance creating an
   92  exemption from fees for enforcing the Florida Building Code
   93  applicable to permits related to the construction of affordable
   94  housing under chapter 420.
   95         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2021.