Florida Senate - 2006                      COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
    Bill No. SB 2670
                        Barcode 361550
                            CHAMBER ACTION
              Senate                               House
                                   .                    
                                   .                    
 1           Comm: RCS             .                    
       04/25/2006 12:13 PM         .                    
 2                                 .                    
                                   .                    
 3                                 .                    
                                   .                    
 4  ______________________________________________________________
 5  
 6  
 7  
 8  
 9  
10  ______________________________________________________________
11  The Committee on Regulated Industries (Aronberg) recommended
12  the following amendment:
13  
14         Senate Amendment (with title amendment) 
15         Delete everything after the enacting clause
16  
17  and insert:  
18         Section 1.  Part XV of chapter 468, Florida Statutes,
19  consisting of sections 468.83, 468.831, 468.832, 468.833,
20  468.834, 468.835, 468.836, 468.837, and 468.838, is created to
21  read:
22         468.83  Legislative intent.--It is the intent of the
23  Legislature pursuant to s. 11.62 that professions and
24  occupations covered by this part be regulated in a manner that
25  does not unnecessarily restrict entry into such professions or
26  occupations. The Legislature finds that this part provides a
27  measure of protection for homeowners by providing education,
28  experience, and testing requirements for persons in such
29  professions or occupations necessary to protect homeowners'
30  investments in their homes.
31         468.831  Definitions.--As used in this part, the term:
                                  1
    3:06 PM   04/24/06                             s2670d-ri27-z7b

Florida Senate - 2006 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 2670 Barcode 361550 1 (1) "Mold" means an organism of the class fungi that 2 causes disintegration of organic matter and produces spores, 3 and includes any spores, hyphae, and mycotoxins produced by 4 mold. 5 (2) "Mold assessment" means: 6 (a) An investigation or survey of a dwelling or other 7 structure to provide the owner or occupant with information 8 regarding the presence, identification, or evaluation of mold; 9 (b) The development of a mold-management plan or 10 mold-remediation protocol; or 11 (c) The collection or analysis of a mold sample. 12 (3) "Mold assessor" means any person who performs or 13 directly supervises a mold assessment. 14 (4) "Mold remediation" means the removal, cleaning, 15 sanitizing, demolition, or other treatment, including 16 preventive activities, of mold or mold-contaminated matter 17 that was not purposely grown at that location; however, such 18 removal, cleaning, sanitizing, demolition, or other treatment, 19 including preventive activities, may not be work that requires 20 a license under chapter 489 unless performed by a person who 21 is licensed under that chapter or the work complies with that 22 chapter. 23 (5) "Mold remediator" means any person who performs 24 mold remediation. A mold remediator may not perform any work 25 that requires a license under chapter 489 unless the mold 26 remediator is also licensed under that chapter or complies 27 with that chapter. 28 468.832 Requirements for practice.-- 29 (1) A person may not work as a mold assessor or mold 30 remediator unless he or she has evidence of, or works under 31 the direct supervision of a person who has evidence of, the 2 3:06 PM 04/24/06 s2670d-ri27-z7b
Florida Senate - 2006 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 2670 Barcode 361550 1 following: 2 (a)1. For a mold remediator, at least a 2-year degree 3 in microbiology, engineering, architecture, industrial 4 hygiene, safety, or a related field of science from an 5 accredited institution, along with a minimum of 1 year of 6 documented field experience in a field related to mold 7 remediation, or a high school diploma, a GED, or the 8 equivalent with a minimum of 2 years of documented field 9 experience in a field related to mold remediation. 10 2. For a mold assessor, at least a 2-year degree in 11 microbiology, engineering, architecture, industrial hygiene, 12 safety, or a related field of science from an accredited 13 institution, along with a minimum of 1 year of documented 14 field experience in conducting microbial sampling or 15 investigations, or a high school diploma, a GED, or the 16 equivalent with a minimum of 2 years of documented field 17 experience in conducting microbial sampling or investigations. 18 (b) A certification related to performing mold 19 assessment or mold remediation, respectively. Such 20 certification may be issued by a not-for-profit industry 21 association, society, or certification body or by a college or 22 university that offers mold assessment or mold remediation 23 training or education, respectively. Qualified certification 24 programs shall be accredited by a nationally recognized 25 independent accrediting entity that sets programs and 26 standards that comply with American Society for Testing and 27 Materials Standard E1929-98, Standard Practice for Assessment 28 of Certification Programs for Environmental Professionals: 29 Accreditation Criteria, or the equivalent. 30 (2) A business entity may not provide or offer to 31 provide mold assessment or mold remediation services unless 3 3:06 PM 04/24/06 s2670d-ri27-z7b
Florida Senate - 2006 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 2670 Barcode 361550 1 the business entity satisfies all of the requirements of this 2 part. 3 468.833 Exemptions.-- 4 (1) The following persons are not required to comply 5 with this part with regard to any mold assessment: 6 (a) A residential property owner who performs mold 7 assessment on his or her own property. 8 (b) A person who performs mold assessment on property 9 owned or leased by the person, the person's employer, or an 10 entity affiliated with the person's employer through common 11 ownership, or on property operated or managed by the person's 12 employer or an entity affiliated with the person's employer 13 through common ownership. This exemption does not apply if the 14 person, employer, or affiliated entity engages in the business 15 of performing mold assessment for the public. 16 (c) An employee of a mold assessor while directly 17 supervised by the mold assessor. 18 (d) Individuals or business organizations that are not 19 specifically engaged in mold assessment but are acting within 20 the scope of the respective licenses required under chapter 21 471, part I of chapter 481, chapter 482, or chapter 489, are 22 acting on behalf of an insurer under part VI of chapter 626, 23 or are individuals in the manufactured housing industry who 24 are licensed under chapter 320. 25 (e) An authorized employee of the United States, this 26 state, or any municipality, county, or other political 27 subdivision, or public or private school, who meets the 28 requirements of s. 468.832 and who is conducting mold 29 assessment within the scope of that employment, as long as the 30 employee does not hold out for hire or otherwise engage in 31 mold assessment. 4 3:06 PM 04/24/06 s2670d-ri27-z7b
Florida Senate - 2006 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 2670 Barcode 361550 1 (2) The following persons are not required to comply 2 with this part with regard to any mold remediation: 3 (a) A residential property owner who performs mold 4 remediation on his or her own property. 5 (b) A person who performs mold remediation on property 6 owned or leased by the person, the person's employer, or an 7 entity affiliated with the person's employer through common 8 ownership, or on property operated or managed by the person's 9 employer or an entity affiliated with the person's employer 10 through common ownership. This exemption does not apply if the 11 person, employer, or affiliated entity engages in the business 12 of performing mold remediation for the public. 13 (c) An employee of a mold remediator while directly 14 supervised by the mold remediator. 15 (d) Individuals or business organizations that are not 16 specifically engaged in mold remediation but that are acting 17 within the scope of the respective licenses required under 18 chapter 471, part I of chapter 481, chapter 482, or chapter 19 489, are acting on behalf of an insurer under part VI of 20 chapter 626, or are individuals in the manufactured housing 21 industry who are licensed under chapter 320. 22 (e) An authorized employee of the United States, this 23 state, or any municipality, county, or other political 24 subdivision, or public or private school, who meets the 25 requirements of s. 468.832 and who is conducting mold 26 remediation within the scope of that employment, as long as 27 the employee does not hold out for hire or otherwise engage in 28 mold remediation. 29 468.834 Prohibited acts; penalties.-- 30 (1) A mold assessor, a company that employs a mold 31 assessor, or a company that is controlled by a company that 5 3:06 PM 04/24/06 s2670d-ri27-z7b
Florida Senate - 2006 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 2670 Barcode 361550 1 also has a financial interest in a company employing a mold 2 assessor may not: 3 (a) Perform or offer to perform any mold assessment 4 without complying with the requirements of this part. 5 (b) Perform or offer to perform any mold remediation 6 to a structure on which the mold assessor or the mold 7 assessor's company provided a mold assessment within the last 8 12 months. 9 (c) Inspect for a fee any property in which the 10 assessor or the assessor's company has any financial or 11 transfer interest. 12 (d) Accept any compensation, inducement, or reward 13 from a mold remediator or mold remediator's company for the 14 referral of any business to the mold remediator or the mold 15 remediator's company. 16 (e) Offer any compensation, inducement, or reward to a 17 mold remediator or mold remediator's company for the referral 18 of any business from the mold remediator or the mold 19 remediator's company. 20 (f) Accept an engagement to make an omission of the 21 assessment or conduct an assessment in which the assessment 22 itself, or the fee payable for the assessment, is contingent 23 upon the conclusions of the assessment. 24 (2) A mold remediator, a company that employs a mold 25 remediator, or a company that is controlled by a company that 26 also has a financial interest in a company employing a mold 27 remediator may not: 28 (a) Perform or offer to perform any mold remediation 29 without complying with the requirements of this part. 30 (b) Perform or offer to perform any mold assessment as 31 defined in s. 468.831. 6 3:06 PM 04/24/06 s2670d-ri27-z7b
Florida Senate - 2006 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 2670 Barcode 361550 1 (c) Remediate for a fee any property in which the mold 2 remediator or the mold remediator's company has any financial 3 or transfer interest. 4 (d) Accept any compensation, inducement, or reward 5 from a mold assessor or mold assessor's company for the 6 referral of any business from the mold assessor or the mold 7 assessor's company. 8 (e) Offer any compensation, inducement, or reward to a 9 mold assessor or mold assessor's company for the referral of 10 any business from the mold assessor or the mold assessor's 11 company. 12 (3) Any person who violates any provision of this 13 section commits: 14 (a) A misdemeanor of the second degree for a first 15 violation, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. 16 (b) A misdemeanor of the first degree for a second 17 violation, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. 18 (c) A felony of the third degree for a third or 19 subsequent violation, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 20 775.083, or s. 775.084. 21 468.835 Insurance.-- 22 (1) Effective January 1, 2007, a mold assessor must 23 maintain general liability and errors and omissions insurance 24 coverage in an amount of not less than $250,000. 25 (2) Effective January 1, 2007, a mold remediator must 26 maintain general liability insurance policy in an amount of 27 not less than $500,000 that includes specific coverage for 28 mold related claims. 29 468.836 Contracts.--A contract to perform mold 30 assessment or mold remediation must be in a document or 31 electronic record, signed or otherwise authenticated by the 7 3:06 PM 04/24/06 s2670d-ri27-z7b
Florida Senate - 2006 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 2670 Barcode 361550 1 parties. A mold assessment contract is not required to provide 2 estimates related to the cost of repair of an assessed 3 property. A mold assessment contract is not required to 4 provide estimates. 5 468.837 Statute of limitations.--Chapter 95 governs 6 the time at which an action to enforce an obligation, a duty, 7 or a right arising under this part must be commenced. 8 468.838 Grandfather clause.--The provisions of this 9 part shall become effective upon becoming law and shall allow 10 for a period of 2 years after enactment in which persons 11 currently performing mold assessment or mold remediation as 12 described under this part have to complete the requirements of 13 this part. 14 Section 2. Part XVI of chapter 468, Florida Statutes, 15 consisting of sections 468.841, 468.842, 468.843, 468.844, 16 468.845, 468.846, 468.847, and 468.848, is created to read: 17 468.841 Definitions.--As used in this part, the term: 18 (1) "Home" means any residential real property, or 19 manufactured or modular home, that is a single-family 20 dwelling, duplex, triplex, quadruplex, condominium unit, or 21 cooperative unit. The term does not include the common areas 22 of condominiums or cooperatives. 23 (2) "Home inspector" means any person who provides or 24 offers to provide a home inspection for a fee or other 25 compensation. 26 (3) "Home inspection" means a limited visual 27 examination of one or more of the readily accessible installed 28 systems and components of a home, including, but not limited 29 to, the structure, electrical system, HVAC system, roof 30 covering, plumbing system, interior components, exterior 31 components, and site conditions that affect the structure, for 8 3:06 PM 04/24/06 s2670d-ri27-z7b
Florida Senate - 2006 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 2670 Barcode 361550 1 the purpose of providing a written professional opinion of the 2 condition of the home. 3 468.842 Requirements for practice.-- 4 (1) A person may not work as a home inspector unless 5 he or she: 6 (a) Has successfully completed a course of study of 7 not less than 80 hours, which requires a passing score on a 8 psychometrically valid examination in home inspections, and 9 which includes, but is not limited to, each of the following 10 components of a home: structure; electrical system; roof 11 covering; plumbing system; interior components; exterior 12 components; and site conditions that affect the structure, and 13 heating, ventilation, and cooling systems. Courses of study 14 prescribed under this section must be accredited by a 15 nationally recognized third-party independent accrediting 16 entity that sets programs and standards that ensure competence 17 as a home inspector. 18 (b) Annually completes 8 hours of continuing education 19 related to home inspections. 20 (c) Discloses to the consumer in writing prior to 21 contracting for or commencing a home inspection: 22 1. That the home inspector meets the education and 23 examination requirements of this section. 24 2. That the home inspector maintains the commercial 25 general liability insurance policy as required by this part. 26 3. The scope and any exclusions of the home 27 inspection. 28 4. A statement of experience that includes either the 29 approximate number of home inspections the home inspector has 30 performed for a fee or the number of years of experience as a 31 home inspector. 9 3:06 PM 04/24/06 s2670d-ri27-z7b
Florida Senate - 2006 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 2670 Barcode 361550 1 (2) A business entity may not provide or offer to 2 provide home inspection services unless each of the home 3 inspectors employed by the business entity satisfies all the 4 requirements of this part. 5 (3) A business entity may not use, in connection with 6 the name or signature of the business entity, the title " home 7 inspectors" to describe the business entity's services unless 8 each of the home inspectors employed by the business entity 9 satisfies all the requirements of this part. 10 468.843 Exemptions.--The following persons are not 11 required to comply with this part when acting within the scope 12 of practice authorized by such license, except when such 13 persons are conducting, producing, disseminating, or charging 14 a fee for a home inspection or otherwise operating within the 15 scope of this part: 16 (1) A construction contractor licensed under chapter 17 489. 18 (2) An architect licensed under chapter 481. 19 (3) An engineer licensed under chapter 471. 20 (4) A building code administrator, plans examiner, or 21 building code inspector licensed under part XII of chapter 22 468. 23 (5) A certified real estate appraiser, licensed real 24 estate appraiser, or registered real estate appraiser licensed 25 under part II of chapter 475. 26 (6) An inspector whose report is being provided to, 27 and is solely for the benefit of, the Federal Housing 28 Administration or the Veterans Administration. 29 (7) An inspector conducting inspections for 30 wood-destroying organisms on behalf of a licensee under 31 chapter 482. 10 3:06 PM 04/24/06 s2670d-ri27-z7b
Florida Senate - 2006 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 2670 Barcode 361550 1 (8) A firesafety inspector certified under s. 633.081. 2 (9) An insurance adjuster licensed under part VI of 3 chapter 626. 4 (10) An officer appointed by the court. 5 (11) A master septic tank contractor licensed under 6 part III of chapter 489. 7 (l2) A certified energy auditor performing an energy 8 audit of any home or building conducted under chapter 366 or 9 rules adopted by the Public Service Commission. 10 (13) A mobile home manufacturer, dealer, or installer 11 regulated or licensed under chapter 320 and any employees or 12 agents of the manufacturer, dealer, or installer. 13 468.844 Prohibited acts; penalties.-- 14 (1) A home inspector, a company that employs a home 15 inspector, or a company that is controlled by a company that 16 has a financial interest in a company employing a home 17 inspector may not: 18 (a) Perform or offer to perform, prior to closing, for 19 any additional fee, any repairs to a home on which the 20 inspector or the inspector's company has prepared a home 21 inspection report. This paragraph does not apply to a home 22 warranty company that is affiliated with or retains a home 23 inspector to perform repairs pursuant to a claim made under a 24 home warranty contract. 25 (b) Inspect for a fee any property in which the 26 inspector or the inspector's company has any financial or 27 transfer interest. 28 (c) Offer or deliver any compensation, inducement, or 29 reward to the owner of the inspected property, or any broker 30 or agent therefor, for the referral of any business to the 31 inspector or the inspector's company. 11 3:06 PM 04/24/06 s2670d-ri27-z7b
Florida Senate - 2006 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 2670 Barcode 361550 1 (d) Accept an engagement to make an omission or 2 prepare a report in which the inspection itself, or the fee 3 payable for the inspection, is contingent upon the conclusions 4 in the report, the preestablished findings, or the close of 5 escrow. 6 (2) Any person who violates any provision of this 7 section commits: 8 (a) A misdemeanor of the second degree for a first 9 violation, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. 10 (b) A misdemeanor of the first degree for a second 11 violation, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. 12 (c) A felony of the third degree for a third or 13 subsequent violation, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 14 775.083, or s. 775.084. 15 468.845 Insurance.--A home inspector must maintain a 16 commercial general liability insurance policy in an amount of 17 not less that $300,000. 18 468.846 Repair cost estimates.--Home inspectors are 19 not required to provide estimates related to the cost of 20 repair of an inspected property. 21 468.847 Statute of limitations.--Chapter 95 governs 22 when an action to enforce an obligation, duty, or right 23 arising under this part must be commenced. 24 468.848 Grandfather clause.--Until January 1, 2008, 25 notwithstanding any other provision of this part, a person who 26 meets the following criteria may work as a home inspector: 27 (1) Has successfully completed high school or its 28 equivalent or has been in the business of home inspection 29 services for at least 5 years. 30 (2) Has been engaged in the practice of home 31 inspection for compensation for at least 3 years prior to 12 3:06 PM 04/24/06 s2670d-ri27-z7b
Florida Senate - 2006 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 2670 Barcode 361550 1 January 1, 2007. 2 (3) Has performed of not fewer than 250 home 3 inspections for compensation. 4 Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2006. 5 6 7 ================ T I T L E A M E N D M E N T =============== 8 And the title is amended as follows: 9 Delete everything before the enacting clause 10 11 and insert: 12 A bill to be entitled 13 An act relating to building assessment and 14 remediation; creating pt. XV of ch. 468, F.S., 15 relating to regulation of mold assessment and 16 mold remediation; providing legislative intent; 17 providing definitions; providing requirements 18 for practice of mold assessment or mold 19 remediation; providing exemptions; providing 20 for prohibited acts and penalties; providing 21 insurance requirements; providing for contracts 22 to perform mold assessment or mold remediation; 23 providing a statute of limitations; providing a 24 grandfather clause; creating pt. XVI of ch. 25 468, F.S., relating to regulation of home 26 inspection services; providing definitions; 27 providing requirements for practice; providing 28 exemptions; providing prohibited acts and 29 penalties; requiring liability insurance; 30 exempting certain persons from duty to provide 31 repair cost estimates; providing a statute of 13 3:06 PM 04/24/06 s2670d-ri27-z7b
Florida Senate - 2006 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 2670 Barcode 361550 1 limitations; exempting persons currently 2 providing certain home inspections from 3 regulation under the act; providing an 4 effective date. 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 14 3:06 PM 04/24/06 s2670d-ri27-z7b