HB 0129 2004
1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to elevator safety; requiring elevators in
3	certain newly constructed or substantially renovated
4	buildings within a state emergency response region to be
5	operable in a fire emergency situation through the use of
6	a single master elevator key; requiring compliance for
7	certain existing buildings by a specified date;
8	restricting the duplication and issuance of master
9	elevator keys; authorizing local fire marshals to allow
10	substitute emergency measures for emergency elevator
11	access in certain circumstances; providing for appeal of a
12	local fire marshal's decision; providing for enforcement
13	by the Division of State Fire Marshal; providing an
14	exemption for specified buildings; amending s. 399.106,
15	F.S.; revising the membership of the Elevator Safety
16	Technical Advisory Committee; removing provisions
17	terminating the committee; providing an effective date.
18
19	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
20
21	Section 1. Regional emergency elevator access.--
22	(1) In order to provide emergency access to elevators:
23	(a) For each building in this state which is six or more
24	stories in height, including, but not limited to, hotels and
25	condominiums, on which construction is begun after June 30,
26	2004, all keys for elevators that allow public access,
27	including, but not limited to, service and freight elevators,
28	must be keyed in a manner that will allow all elevators within
29	each of the seven state emergency response regions to operate in
30	fire emergency situations by using one master elevator key.
31	(b) Any building in this state which is six or more
32	stories in height and is "substantially renovated" as defined in
33	the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended, after June 30,
34	2004, must also comply with the requirements of paragraph (a).
35	(2) Each existing building in this state which is six or
36	more stories in height must comply with the requirements of
37	subsection (1) before July 1, 2007.
38	(3) In addition to elevator owners, elevator owners'
39	agents, elevator contractors, state certified inspectors, and
40	State of Florida agency representatives, master elevator keys
41	may be issued only to fire departments and may not be issued to
42	any other emergency-response agency. A person may not duplicate
43	a master elevator key for issuance to, or issue a master
44	elevator key to, anyone other than authorized fire department
45	personnel. Each master elevator key must be marked "DO NOT
46	DUPLICATE."
47	(4) If it is technically or physically impossible to bring
48	a building into compliance with this section, the local fire
49	marshal may allow substitute emergency measures that will
50	provide reasonable emergency elevator access. The local fire
51	marshal's decision regarding substitute measures may be appealed
52	to the State Fire Marshal.
53	(5) The Division of State Fire Marshal of the Department
54	of Financial Services shall enforce this section.
55	(6) Builders should make every effort to use new
56	technology and developments in keying systems which make it
57	possible to convert existing equipment in a manner that will
58	provide efficient regional emergency elevator access.
59	(7) Any building operated by an independent special
60	district or an airport that has 24-hour emergency response
61	services is exempt from this section.
62	Section 2. Section 399.106, Florida Statutes, is amended
63	to read:
64	399.106 Elevator Safety Technical Advisory Committee.--
65	(1) The Elevator Safety Technical Advisory Committee is
66	created within the Department of Business and Professional
67	Regulation, Division of Hotels and Restaurants, consisting of
68	eight sevenmembers to be appointed by the secretary of the
69	Department of Business and Professional Regulation as follows:
70	one representative from a major elevator manufacturing company
71	or its authorized representative; one representative from an
72	elevator servicing company; one representative from a building
73	design profession; one representative of the general public; one
74	representative of a local government in this state; one
75	representative of a building owner or manager; one
76	representative of labor involved in the installation,
77	maintenance, and repair of elevators; and one representative who
78	is a certified elevator inspector from a private inspection
79	service. The purpose of the committee is to provide technical
80	assistance to the division in support of protecting the health,
81	safety, and welfare of the public; to give the division the
82	benefit of the committee members' knowledge and experience
83	concerning the industries and individual businesses affected by
84	the laws and rules administered by the division.
85	(2) The committee members shall serve staggered terms of 4
86	years to be set by rule without salary, but may receive from the
87	state expenses for per diem and travel. The committee shall
88	appoint one of the members to serve as chair.
89	(3) The committee shall meet and organize not later than
90	45 days prior to the convening of the 2002 Legislature. This
91	committee terminates December 31, 2003.
92	(3)(4)The committee may consult with engineering
93	authorities and organizations concerned with standard safety
94	codes for recommendations to the department regarding rules and
95	regulations governing the operation, maintenance, servicing,
96	construction, alteration, installation, or inspection of
97	vertical conveyances subject to this chapter.
98	Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2004.