CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.



                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

    704-187AXA-08                    Bill No. CS/HB 1681, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)

                            CHAMBER ACTION
              Senate                               House
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  4  ______________________________________________________________

  5                                           ORIGINAL STAMP BELOW

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10  ______________________________________________________________

11  Representative(s) Goodlette offered the following:

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13         Amendment (with title amendment) 

14         On page 46, line 4,

15  remove:  all of said line

16

17  and insert:

18         Section 38.  Section 482.227, Florida Statutes, is

19  amended to read:

20         482.227  Guarantees and warranties.--

21         (1)  The Legislature finds that the terms "guarantee"

22  and "warranty" are common in contracts for the treatment of

23  wood-destroying organisms and intends to clarify that the

24  purpose of this section is to ensure that the consumer

25  understands whether a contract contains a guarantee or

26  warranty for repair and retreatment or for retreatment only or

27  contains no guarantee. Unless the contract for treatment of

28  wood-destroying organisms indicates conspicuously on the front

29  page whether the guarantee or warranty is for repair and

30  retreatment or for retreatment only or that no guarantee or

31  warranty is offered, the term "guarantee" or "warranty" may be

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    File original & 9 copies    03/14/02
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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

    704-187AXA-08                    Bill No. CS/HB 1681, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  used in a contract for treatment of wood-destroying organisms

  2  only in the following circumstances:

  3         (a)  If the licensee promises to repair restore any

  4  property damaged by wood-destroying organisms during a

  5  specified period after the treatment, the term "full" or

  6  "unlimited" must be used together with the term "guarantee" or

  7  "warranty" wherever that term occurs other than in a

  8  disclaimer under subsection (2).

  9         (b)  If the licensee promises only to provide

10  additional treatment if infestation occurs during a specified

11  period after treatment, the term "limited" must be used with

12  the term "guarantee" or "warranty" wherever that term occurs

13  other than in a disclaimer under subsection (2).

14         (c)  If the licensee does not promise to repair restore

15  the property or provide additional treatment, the term

16  "guarantee" or "warranty" may not be used except in a

17  disclaimer under subsection (2).

18         (2)  A disclaimer indicating that no guarantee or

19  warranty is offered under the contract Any statement

20  disclaiming an expressed or implied guarantee or warranty must

21  appear in conspicuous type on the face of the contract.

22         Section 39.  Effective October 1, 2003, section

23  482.227, Florida Statutes, as amended by this act, is amended

24  to read:

25         482.227  Guarantees and warranties; contracts executed

26  after October 1, 2003.--

27         (1)  The Legislature finds that the terms "guarantee"

28  and "warranty" are common in contracts for the treatment of

29  wood-destroying organisms. and intends to clarify that The

30  purpose of this section is to ensure that contract language

31  describing the consumer understands whether a contract

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    File original & 9 copies    03/14/02
    hbd0016                     08:53 am         01681-0076-033031




                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

    704-187AXA-08                    Bill No. CS/HB 1681, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  contains a guarantee or warranty is clear and easily

  2  identifiable for the protection of consumers and licensees for

  3  repair and retreatment or for retreatment only or contains no

  4  guarantee. Therefore, the provisions of this section shall

  5  apply to new contracts for the treatment of wood-destroying

  6  organisms issued by the licensee and signed by the customer

  7  after October 1, 2003. Unless the contract for treatment of

  8  wood-destroying organisms indicates conspicuously on the front

  9  page whether the guarantee or warranty is for repair and

10  retreatment or for retreatment only or that no guarantee or

11  warranty is offered, the term "guarantee" or "warranty" may be

12  used in a contract for treatment of wood-destroying organisms

13  only in the following circumstances:

14         (a)  If the licensee promises to repair any property

15  damaged by wood-destroying organisms during a specified period

16  after the treatment, the term "full" or "unlimited" must be

17  used together with the term "guarantee" or "warranty" wherever

18  that term occurs other than in a disclaimer under subsection

19  (2).

20         (b)  If the licensee promises only to provide

21  additional treatment if infestation occurs during a specified

22  period after treatment, the term "limited" must be used with

23  the term "guarantee" or "warranty" wherever that term occurs

24  other than in a disclaimer under subsection (2).

25         (c)  If the licensee does not promise to repair the

26  property or provide additional treatment, the term "guarantee"

27  or "warranty" may not be used except in a disclaimer under

28  subsection (2).

29         (2)  Any contract for treatment of wood-destroying

30  organisms must specify on the first page in bold print that

31  the guarantee or warranty is for repair and retreatment or for

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    File original & 9 copies    03/14/02
    hbd0016                     08:53 am         01681-0076-033031




                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

    704-187AXA-08                    Bill No. CS/HB 1681, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  retreatment only or that no warranty or guarantee is offered.

  2  A disclaimer indicating that no guarantee or warranty is

  3  offered under the contract must appear in conspicuous type on

  4  the face of the contract.

  5         (3)  The contract for treatment of wood-destroying

  6  organisms must specify on the first page in bold print whether

  7  there are any disclaimers, limitations, conditions, or

  8  exclusions on the licensee's obligation to repair or retreat

  9  the property. Contract sections describing disclaimers,

10  limitations, conditions, or exclusions applicable to the

11  licensee's obligation to repair or retreat the property must

12  contain headings in bold print.

13         (4)  If a contract for treatment of wood-destroying

14  organisms contains a disclaimer, limitation, condition, or

15  exclusion applicable to the licensee's obligation to repair or

16  retreat the property, the term "full" or "unlimited" may not

17  be used together with the term "guarantee" or "warranty."

18         Section 40.  It is the intent of the Legislature to

19  phase in the requirements set forth in section 39 of this act

20  to provide that the requirements of s. 482.227, Florida

21  Statutes, as amended by section 39, apply only to contracts

22  for the treatment of wood-destroying organisms issued by the

23  licensee and signed by the customer on or after October 1,

24  2003.

25         Section 41.  Except as otherwise provided herein, this

26  act shall take effect July 1, 2002.

27

28

29  ================ T I T L E   A M E N D M E N T ===============

30  And the title is amended as follows:

31         On page 5, line 14,

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    File original & 9 copies    03/14/02
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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

    704-187AXA-08                    Bill No. CS/HB 1681, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  remove:  all of said line

  2

  3  and insert:

  4         W. Hunt Building; amending s. 482.227, F.S.;

  5         revising requirements relating to guarantees

  6         and warranties in contracts for treatment of

  7         wood-destroying organisms; providing

  8         legislative intent with respect to such

  9         guarantees and warranties; providing effective

10         dates.

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    File original & 9 copies    03/14/02
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