HB 0835

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to wind-protection provisions of the
3	Florida Building Code; requiring the commission to adopt
4	certain wind protection requirements for areas of the
5	state not within the high velocity hurricane zone;
6	providing construction; providing for incorporation into
7	the Florida Building Code of the repeal of a design option
8	relating to internal pressure for buildings within the
9	windborne debris region; providing an appropriation for a
10	joint program to educate contractors for certain purposes;
11	requiring the commission to review damage from Hurricane
12	Ivan and make recommendations to the Legislature for
13	changes to the Florida Building Code, especially relating
14	to certain areas; requiring a report; directing the
15	commission to evaluate the definition of the term
16	"exposure category C" and recommend a revision to
17	accurately reflect certain conditions specific to the
18	state; providing an effective date.
19
20	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
21
22	Section 1.  Notwithstanding subsection (3) of section 109,
23	chapter 2000-141, Laws of Florida, for areas of the state not
24	within the high velocity hurricane zone, the commission shall
25	adopt, pursuant to s. 553.73, Florida Statutes, the most current
26	edition of the wind protection requirements of the American
27	Society of Civil Engineers, Standard 7, as implemented by the
28	International Building Code upon updating the Florida Building
29	Code. This section is intended to explicitly supersede only the
30	first sentence of subsection (3) of section 109, chapter 2000-
31	141, Laws of Florida.
32	Section 2.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this
33	act, the option for designing for internal pressure for
34	buildings within the windborne debris region shall be repealed
35	immediately upon adoption of standards and conditions within the
36	International Building Code or International Residential Code
37	prohibiting such design option. The Florida Building Commission
38	shall initiate rulemaking to incorporate such standards and
39	conditions prohibiting designing for internal pressure for
40	buildings into the Florida Building Code when the base code is
41	updated.
42	Section 3.  For fiscal year 2005-2006 only, the sum of
43	$200,000 is appropriated from the Insurance Regulatory Trust
44	Fund to the Department of Financial Services to be used to
45	develop a joint program between the Florida Insurance Council
46	and the Florida Home Builders Association to educate contractors
47	on the benefits and options available for designing buildings
48	for windborne debris protection and to develop a standardized
49	affidavit to be used for verifying the insurance discounts for
50	residential construction techniques demonstrated to reduce the
51	amount of loss during a windstorm.
52	Section 4.  The Florida Building Commission, in conjunction
53	with local building officials, shall conduct a review of damage
54	resulting from Hurricane Ivan and any other data to evaluate,
55	and to make recommendations to the Legislature for any changes
56	to, the Florida Building Code, specifically as it applies to the
57	region from the eastern border of Franklin County to the
58	Florida-Alabama line. The commission shall issue a report
59	summarizing its findings and recommendations prior to the 2006
60	Regular Session of the Legislature.
61	Section 5.  The Florida Building Commission shall evaluate
62	the definition of the term "exposure category C" as currently
63	defined in s. 553.71(10), Florida Statutes, and make
64	recommendations for a new definition that more accurately
65	depicts Florida-specific conditions prior to the 2006 Regular
66	Session of the Legislature.
67	Section 6.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2005.

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