HB 0919 2003
1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to fire hydrants; requiring owners of
3	private fire hydrants to contract with licensed
4	professionals or local fire-control authorities to inspect
5	and service such hydrants; providing an effective date.
6
7	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
8
9	Section 1. (1) A person who owns a private fire hydrant
10	must ensure that the hydrant is installed in compliance with the
11	provisions of National Fire Protection Association Standard 24,
12	Standard for the Installation of Private Fire Service Mains and
13	Their Appurtenances, and that it is inspected and maintained in
14	compliance with the provisions of National Fire Protection
15	Association Standard 25, Standard for the Inspection, Testing,
16	and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems, the
17	edition currently adopted by the State Fire Marshal pursuant to
18	its code-adoption and standards-adoption authority in chapter
19	633, Florida Statutes. A person who owns a private fire hydrant
20	must produce, upon request of the fire official, a valid and
21	continuing maintenance contract with a plumbing contractor
22	licensed under chapter 489, Florida Statutes, an underground
23	utility contractor licensed under chapter 489, Florida Statutes,
24	or, if the private hydrant is part of a fire suppression system,
25	a fire protection contractor licensed under chapter 633, Florida
26	Statutes. Upon failure to produce a valid maintenance contract
27	as provided in this section, the owner must contract with the
28	local government fire-control authority that serves the property
29	where the fire hydrant is located to inspect and service the
30	fire hydrant annually.
31	(2) A person who violates this section is guilty of a
32	noncriminal violation, punishable by a fine not to exceed $100
33	for a first offense or $250 for each subsequent offense.
34	Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2003.