The Florida Senate

633.026  Informal interpretations of the Florida Fire Prevention Code.--The Division of State Fire Marshal shall by rule establish an informal process of rendering nonbinding interpretations of the Florida Fire Prevention Code. The Division of State Fire Marshal may contract with and refer interpretive issues to a nonprofit organization that has experience in interpreting and enforcing the Florida Fire Prevention Code. The Division of State Fire Marshal shall immediately implement the process prior to the completion of formal rulemaking. It is the intent of the Legislature that the Division of State Fire Marshal create a process to refer questions to a small group of individuals certified under s. 633.081(2), to which a party can pose questions regarding the interpretation of code provisions. It is the intent of the Legislature that the process provide for the expeditious resolution of the issues presented and publication of the resulting interpretation on the website of the Division of State Fire Marshal. It is the intent of the Legislature that this program be similar to the program established by the Florida Building Commission in s. 553.77(7). Such interpretations shall be advisory only and nonbinding on the parties or the State Fire Marshal. In order to administer this section, the department may adopt by rule and impose a fee for nonbinding interpretations, with payment made directly to the third party. The fee may not exceed $150 for each request for a review or interpretation.

History.--s. 18, ch. 2005-147.