The Florida Senate

In addition to the requirements of s. 527.02, any person applying for a license to engage in the activities of a pipeline system operator, category I liquefied petroleum gas dealer, category II liquefied petroleum gas dispenser, category IV liquefied petroleum gas dispenser and recreational vehicle servicer, category V liquefied petroleum gases dealer for industrial uses only, LP gas installer, specialty installer, requalification of cylinders, or fabricator, repairer, and tester of vehicles and cargo tanks must prove competency by passing a written examination administered by the department or its agent with a grade of 75 percent or above. Each applicant for examination shall submit a $20 nonrefundable fee. The department shall by rule specify the general areas of competency to be covered by each examination and the relative weight to be assigned in grading each area tested.

Application for examination for competency may be made by an individual or by an owner, a partner, or any person employed by the license applicant. Upon successful completion of the competency examination, the department shall issue a qualifier identification card to the examinee.

Qualifier cards issued to category I liquefied petroleum gas dealers and liquefied petroleum gas installers shall expire 3 years after the date of issuance. All category I liquefied petroleum gas dealer qualifiers and liquefied petroleum gas installer qualifiers holding a valid qualifier card upon the effective date of this act shall retain their qualifier status until July 1, 2003, and may sit for the master qualifier examination at any time during that time period. All such category I liquefied petroleum gas dealer qualifiers and liquefied petroleum gas installer qualifiers may renew their qualification on or before July 1, 2003, upon application to the department, payment of a $20 renewal fee, and documentation of the completion of a minimum of 12 hours approved continuing education courses, as defined by department rule, during the previous 3-year period. Applications for renewal must be made 30 calendar days prior to expiration. Persons failing to renew prior to the expiration date must reapply and take a qualifier competency examination in order to reestablish category I liquefied petroleum gas dealer qualifier and liquefied petroleum gas installer qualifier status. If a category I liquefied petroleum gas qualifier or liquefied petroleum gas installer qualifier becomes a master qualifier at any time during the effective date of the qualifier card, the card shall remain in effect until expiration of the master qualifier certification.

A qualifier for a business organization involved in installation, repair, maintenance, or service of liquefied petroleum gas appliances, equipment, or systems must actually function in a supervisory capacity of other company employees installing, repairing, maintaining, or servicing liquefied petroleum gas appliances, equipment, or systems. A separate qualifier shall be required for every 10 such employees. Additional qualifiers are required for those business organizations employing more than 10 employees that install, repair, maintain, or service liquefied petroleum gas equipment and systems.

In addition to all other licensing requirements, each category I liquefied petroleum gas dealer and liquefied petroleum gas installer must, at the time of application for licensure, identify to the department one master qualifier who is a full-time employee at the licensed location. This person shall be a manager, owner, or otherwise primarily responsible for overseeing the operations of the licensed location and must provide documentation to the department as provided by rule. The master qualifier requirement shall be in addition to the requirements of subsection (1).

A vacancy in a qualifier or master qualifier position in a business organization which results from the departure of the qualifier or master qualifier shall be immediately reported to the department by the departing qualifier or master qualifier and the licensed company.

The department may deny, refuse to renew, suspend, or revoke any qualifier card or master qualifier certificate for any of the following causes:

Any individual having competency qualifications on file with the department may request the transfer of such qualifications to any existing licenseholder by making a written request to the department for such transfer. Any individual having a competency examination on file with the department may use such examination for a new license application after making application in writing to the department. All examinations are confidential and exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1).

If a duplicate license, qualifier card, or master qualifier certificate is requested by the licensee, a fee of $10 must be received before issuance of the duplicate license or card. If a facsimile transmission of an original license is requested, upon completion of the transmission a fee of $10 must be received by the department before the original license may be mailed to the requester.

All revenues collected herein shall be deposited in the General Inspection Trust Fund for the purpose of administering the provisions of this chapter.