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House Bill 1191

Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 1191 By Representative Kelly 1 A bill to be entitled 2 An act relating to accessibility by handicapped 3 persons; creating s. 553.5045, F.S.; providing 4 an exception to the provisions of s. 553.504, 5 F.S., for qualified historic buildings or 6 facilities; providing that federal 7 accessibility guidelines shall govern access to 8 such buildings or facilities; creating s. 9 553.5125, F.S.; providing for the jurisdiction 10 of local code enforcement boards to grant 11 modifications and waivers; providing for the 12 creation of local handicapped accessibility 13 councils; providing an effective date. 14 15 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 16 17 Section 1. Section 553.5045, Florida Statutes, is 18 created to read: 19 553.5045 Exceptions for historic 20 buildings.--Notwithstanding any provision of s. 553.504, 21 qualified historic buildings or facilities, as defined in 22 reference 4.1.7(b) of the Americans with Disabilities Act 23 Accessibility Guidelines, as described in s. 553.503, shall be 24 governed by the requirements of reference 4.1.7 to the extent 25 of any inconsistency with s. 553.504. 26 Section 2. Section 553.5125, Florida Statutes, is 27 created to read: 28 553.5125 Modifications or exceptions; local boards and 29 advisory councils.--As an alternative to the procedure for 30 modification or waiver established in s. 553.512, a county or 31 city may authorize its respective local building code 1 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 1191 90-382-97 1 enforcement board (the "local board") established pursuant to 2 s. 553.80, to grant individual modifications of, or exceptions 3 from, the literal requirements of this part upon a 4 determination of unnecessary or extreme hardship, provided 5 such waivers shall not violate federal accessibility laws and 6 regulations and shall be reviewed by a local Handicapped 7 Accessibility Advisory Council (the "local council"). A local 8 council shall be established by each county or city seeking to 9 authorize the local board to exercise the authority granted 10 herein, and shall consist of at least three members who shall 11 be knowledgeable in the area of handicapped accessibility and 12 who shall be selected from three of the following groups: the 13 Advocacy Center for Persons with Disabilities, Inc.; the 14 Division of Blind Services; the Division of Vocational 15 Rehabilitation; a statewide organization representing the 16 physically handicapped; the hearing impaired; Florida Council 17 of Handicapped Organizations; and the Paralyzed Veterans of 18 America. Upon application made in the form provided by such 19 local board, an individual waiver or modification may be 20 granted by the local board so long as such modification or 21 waiver is not in conflict with more stringent standards 22 provided in another chapter. Each local board and local 23 council may adopt rules establishing procedures for the 24 resolution of applications for modifications or waivers 25 hereunder. 26 Section 3. This act shall take effect upon becoming a 27 law. 28 29 30 31 2 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 1191 90-382-97 1 ***************************************** 2 HOUSE SUMMARY 3 Revises the Florida Americans with Disabilities 4 Accessibility Implementation Act to: 1. Provide an exception for qualified historic 5 buildings or facilities and that federal accessibility guidelines shall govern access to such buildings or 6 facilities. 2. Provide for the jurisdiction of local code 7 enforcement boards to grant modifications and waivers. 3. Provide for the creation of local handicapped 8 accessibility advisory councils. 9 See bill for details. 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 3