Florida Senate - 2009                             CS for SB 2100
       
       
       
       By the Committee on Community Affairs; and Senator Bennett
       
       
       
       
       578-03339B-09                                         20092100c1
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to building codes; amending s. 339.02,
    3         F.S., providing requirements relating to elevator
    4         safety; amending s. 399.15, F.S., providing an
    5         alternative method to provide regional emergency
    6         elevator access; providing for a uniform lock box;
    7         providing for a master key; providing the Division of
    8         State Fire Marshal with enforcement authority;
    9         directing the Department of Financial Services to
   10         select the provider of the uniform lock box; amending
   11         s. 468.8311, F.S., effective July 1, 2010, to revise
   12         definitions for home inspection services; amending s.
   13         468.8312, F.S., effective July 1, 2010, providing for
   14         fee increases for home inspection licenses; amending
   15         s. 468.8319, F.S.; effective July 1, 2010, revising a
   16         prohibition on providers of home inspection services;
   17         amending s. 468.832, F.S.; effective July 1, 2010,
   18         authorizing the Department of Business and
   19         Professional Regulation to impose penalties on
   20         licensees found guilty of violations; amending s.
   21         468.8324, effective July 1, 2010, providing additional
   22         home inspection licensure requirements; amending s.
   23         215.5586, F.S.; effective July 1, 2010, adding home
   24         inspectors licensed under s. 468.83, F.S., to the list
   25         of wind certification entities that may be selected by
   26         the Department of Financial Services to provide
   27         hurricane mitigation inspections; amending s. 627.351,
   28         F.S.; deleting a requirement for opening protections
   29         for designated property; repealing s. 718.113(6),
   30         F.S.; relating to requirements for 5-year inspections
   31         of certain condominium improvements; amending s.
   32         553.37, F.S.; revising criteria for inspection of
   33         manufactured buildings; authorizing manufacturers to
   34         pay inspection fees directly to the provider of
   35         inspection services; providing rulemaking authority to
   36         the Department of Community Affairs; authorizing the
   37         department to enter into contracts for the performance
   38         of certain administrative duties; revising inspection
   39         requirements for certain custom manufactured
   40         buildings; amending s. 553.375, F.S.; revising the
   41         requirement for recertification of manufactured
   42         buildings prior to relocation; amending s. 553.73,
   43         F.S.; authorizing the commission to adopt amendments
   44         relating to equivalency of standards; authorizing the
   45         adoption of amendments necessary to accommodate state
   46         agency rules to meet federal requirements for design
   47         criteria relating to public educational facilities and
   48         state-licensed facilities; providing an exception to
   49         the Florida Building Code; restricting the code from
   50         imposing requirements on certain air conditioning
   51         systems; amending s. 553.74, F.S.; authorizing members
   52         of the commission’s advisory and technical committees
   53         to appear before the commission on professional
   54         matters; providing that the member may not take action
   55         on certain matters; amending s. 553.76, F.S.;
   56         authorizing the Florida Building Commission to adopt
   57         rules related to consensus-building decisionmaking;
   58         amending s. 553.775, F.S.; authorizing the commission
   59         to charge a fee for nonbinding interpretations;
   60         amending s. 553.79, F.S.; requiring state agencies to
   61         contract for inspection services under the alternative
   62         plans review and inspection process or with a local
   63         governmental entity; providing exceptions; amending s.
   64         553.841, F.S.; deleting provisions requiring that the
   65         department maintain, update, develop, or cause to be
   66         developed a core curriculum; amending s. 553.842,
   67         F.S.; authorizing commission rules to provide for the
   68         payment of product evaluation fees directly to the
   69         provider; providing that the provider must remit the
   70         department’s portion of the fees; providing
   71         requirements for approval of applications for state
   72         approval of a product; providing that certain approved
   73         products will be immediately added to the list of
   74         state-approved products; providing for review and
   75         ratification of an approved product by the commission;
   76         revising the list of approved evaluation entities;
   77         deleting obsolete provisions; amending s. 553.885,
   78         F.S.; revising requirements for carbon monoxide
   79         alarms; repealing ss. 468.627(6), 481.215(5), and
   80         481.313(5), F.S., relating to building code
   81         inspectors, renewal of the license for architects,
   82         interior designers, and landscape architects,
   83         respectively; amending ss. 468.609, 471.0195, 489.115,
   84         489.1455, and 489.517, F.S., conforming provisions
   85         relating to the deletion of core curriculum courses;
   86         reenacting s. 553.80(1), F.S., relating to the
   87         enforcement of the Florida Building Code, to
   88         incorporate the amendments made to s. 553.79, F.S., in
   89         a reference thereto; directing the Florida Building
   90         Commission to update the Florida Building Code to
   91         include revisions made to s. 399.02, F.S.; providing
   92         effective dates.
   93  
   94  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   95  
   96         Section 1. Subsection (6) of section 399.02, Florida
   97  Statutes, is amended to read:
   98         399.02 General requirements.—
   99         (6) The department is empowered to carry out all of the
  100  provisions of this chapter relating to the inspection and
  101  regulation of elevators and to enforce the provisions of the
  102  Florida Building Code, except that updates to the code requiring
  103  modifications for heat sensors and electronic controls on
  104  existing elevators, as amended into the Safety Code for Existing
  105  Elevators and Escalators, ANSI/ASME A17.1 and A17.3, may not be
  106  enforced on elevators in condominiums issued a certificate of
  107  operation by the department as of July 1, 2008, until such time
  108  as the elevator is replaced. This exception does not apply to
  109  any building for which a building permit was issued after July
  110  1, 2008.
  111         Section 2. Present subsection (7) of section 399.15,
  112  Florida Statutes, is redesignated as subsection (8), and a new
  113  subsection (7) is added to that section, to read:
  114         399.15 Regional emergency elevator access.—
  115         (7)As an alternative to complying with the requirements of
  116  subsection (1), each building in this state which is required to
  117  meet the provisions of subsections (1) and (2), may instead
  118  provide for the installation of a uniform lock box that contains
  119  the keys to all elevators in the building which allow public
  120  access, including service and freight elevators. The uniform
  121  lock box must be keyed so as to allow all uniform lock boxes in
  122  each of the seven state emergency response regions to operate in
  123  fire emergency situations with one master key. The uniform lock
  124  box master key may be issued only to the fire department. The
  125  Division of State Fire Marshal of the Department of Financial
  126  Services shall enforce this subsection. The Department of
  127  Financial Services shall select the provider of the uniform lock
  128  box to be installed in each building in which this subsection is
  129  implemented.
  130         Section 3. Effective July 1, 2010, section 468.8311,
  131  Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  132         468.8311 Definitions.—As used in this part, the term:
  133         (1) “Department” means the Department of Business and
  134  Professional Regulation.
  135         (2) “Home” means any residential real property, or
  136  manufactured or modular home, which is a single-family dwelling,
  137  duplex, triplex, quadruplex, condominium unit, or cooperative
  138  unit. The term does not include the common areas of condominiums
  139  or cooperatives.
  140         (3) “Home inspector” means any person who provides or
  141  offers to provide home inspection services for a fee or other
  142  compensation.
  143         (4) “Home inspection services” means a limited visual
  144  examination of one or more of the following readily accessible
  145  installed systems and components of a home: the structure,
  146  electrical system, HVAC system, roof covering, plumbing system,
  147  interior components, windows, doors, walls, floors, ceilings,
  148  exterior components, and site conditions that affect the
  149  structure, for the purposes of providing a written professional
  150  opinion of the condition of the home.
  151         Section 4. Effective July 1, 2010, section 468.8312,
  152  Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  153         468.8312 Fees.—
  154         (1) The department, by rule, may establish fees to be paid
  155  for applications, examination, reexamination, licensing and
  156  renewal, inactive status application and reactivation of
  157  inactive licenses, recordkeeping, and applications for providers
  158  of continuing education. The department may also establish by
  159  rule a delinquency fee. Fees shall be based on department
  160  estimates of the revenue required to implement the provisions of
  161  this part. All fees shall be remitted with the appropriate
  162  application, examination, or license.
  163         (2) The initial application and examination fee shall not
  164  exceed $250 $125 plus the actual per applicant cost to the
  165  department to purchase an examination, if the department chooses
  166  to purchase the examination. The examination fee shall be in an
  167  amount that covers the cost of obtaining and administering the
  168  examination and shall be refunded if the applicant is found
  169  ineligible to sit for the examination. The application fee shall
  170  be nonrefundable.
  171         (3) The initial license fee shall not exceed $400 $200.
  172         (4) The fee for a certificate of authorization shall not
  173  exceed $250 $125.
  174         (5) The biennial renewal fee shall not exceed $400 $200.
  175         (6) The fee for licensure by endorsement shall not exceed
  176  $400 $200.
  177         (7) The fee for application for inactive status or for
  178  reactivation of an inactive license shall not exceed $400 $200.
  179         (8) The fee for applications from providers of continuing
  180  education may not exceed $500.
  181         Section 5. Effective July 1, 2010, section 468.8319,
  182  Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  183         468.8319 Prohibitions; penalties.—
  184         (1) No person may A home inspector, a company that employs
  185  a home inspector, or a company that is controlled by a company
  186  that also has a financial interest in a company employing a home
  187  inspector may not:
  188         (a) Practice or offer to practice home inspection services
  189  unless the person has complied with the provisions of this part;
  190         (b) Use the name or title “certified home inspector,”
  191  “registered home inspector,” “licensed home inspector,” “home
  192  inspector,” “professional home inspector,” or any combination
  193  thereof unless the person has complied with the provisions of
  194  this part;
  195         (c) Present as his or her own the license of another;
  196         (d) Knowingly give false or forged evidence to the
  197  department or an employee thereof;
  198         (e) Use or attempt to use a license that has been suspended
  199  or revoked;
  200         (f) Perform or offer to perform, prior to closing, for any
  201  additional fee, any repairs to a home on which the inspector or
  202  the inspector’s company has prepared a home inspection report.
  203  This paragraph does not apply to a home warranty company that is
  204  affiliated with or retains a home inspector to perform repairs
  205  pursuant to a claim made under a home warranty contract;
  206         (g) Inspect for a fee any property in which the inspector
  207  or the inspector’s company has any financial or transfer
  208  interest;
  209         (h) Offer or deliver any compensation, inducement, or
  210  reward to any broker or agent therefor for the referral of the
  211  owner of the inspected property to the inspector or the
  212  inspection company; or
  213         (i) Accept an engagement to make an omission or prepare a
  214  report in which the inspection itself, or the fee payable for
  215  the inspection, is contingent upon either the conclusions in the
  216  report, preestablished findings, or the close of escrow.
  217         (2) Any person who is found to be in violation of any
  218  provision of this section commits a misdemeanor of the first
  219  degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
  220         Section 6. Effective July 1, 2010, section 468.832, Florida
  221  Statutes, is amended to read:
  222         468.832 Disciplinary proceedings.—
  223         (1) The following acts constitute grounds for which the
  224  disciplinary actions in subsection (2) may be taken:
  225         (a) Violation of any provision of this part or s.
  226  455.227(1);
  227         (b) Attempting to procure a license to practice home
  228  inspection services by bribery or fraudulent misrepresentation;
  229         (c) Having a license to practice home inspection services
  230  revoked, suspended, or otherwise acted against, including the
  231  denial of licensure, by the licensing authority of another
  232  state, territory, or country;
  233         (d) Being convicted or found guilty of, or entering a plea
  234  of nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a crime in
  235  any jurisdiction that directly relates to the practice of home
  236  inspection services or the ability to practice home inspection
  237  services;
  238         (e) Making or filing a report or record that the licensee
  239  knows to be false, willfully failing to file a report or record
  240  required by state or federal law, willfully impeding or
  241  obstructing such filing, or inducing another person to impede or
  242  obstruct such filing. Such reports or records shall include only
  243  those that are signed in the capacity of a licensed home
  244  inspector;
  245         (f) Advertising goods or services in a manner that is
  246  fraudulent, false, deceptive, or misleading in form or content;
  247         (g) Engaging in fraud or deceit, or negligence,
  248  incompetency, or misconduct, in the practice of home inspection
  249  services;
  250         (h) Failing to perform any statutory or legal obligation
  251  placed upon a licensed home inspector; violating any provision
  252  of this chapter, a rule of the department, or a lawful order of
  253  the department previously entered in a disciplinary hearing; or
  254  failing to comply with a lawfully issued subpoena of the
  255  department; or
  256         (i) Practicing on a revoked, suspended, inactive, or
  257  delinquent license.
  258         (2) When the department finds any licensee home inspector
  259  guilty of any of the grounds set forth in subsection (1), it may
  260  enter an order imposing one or more of the following penalties:
  261         (a) Denial of an application for licensure.
  262         (b) Revocation or suspension of a license.
  263         (c) Imposition of an administrative fine not to exceed
  264  $5,000 for each count or separate offense.
  265         (d) Issuance of a reprimand.
  266         (e) Placement of the home inspector on probation for a
  267  period of time and subject to such conditions as the department
  268  may specify.
  269         (f) Restriction of the authorized scope of practice by the
  270  home inspector.
  271         (3) In addition to any other sanction imposed under this
  272  part, in any final order that imposes sanctions, the department
  273  may assess costs related to the investigation and prosecution of
  274  the case.
  275         Section 7. Effective July 1, 2010, section 468.8324,
  276  Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  277         468.8324 Grandfather clause.—A person who performs home
  278  inspection services as defined in this part may qualify to be
  279  licensed by the department as a home inspector if the person
  280  meets the licensure requirements of this part by July 1, 2010,
  281  and if the person:.
  282         (1)Is of good moral character;
  283         (2)Has successfully completed high school or its
  284  equivalent, or has been in the home inspection business for at
  285  least 3 years;
  286         (3)Has received compensation as a home inspector for not
  287  less than 2 years prior to July 1, 2010; and
  288         (4)Has performed no fewer than 100 home inspections and
  289  received compensation for such inspections.
  290         Section 8. Effective July 1, 2010, subsection (1) of
  291  section 215.5586, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  292         215.5586 My Safe Florida Home Program.—There is established
  293  within the Department of Financial Services the My Safe Florida
  294  Home Program. The department shall provide fiscal
  295  accountability, contract management, and strategic leadership
  296  for the program, consistent with this section. This section does
  297  not create an entitlement for property owners or obligate the
  298  state in any way to fund the inspection or retrofitting of
  299  residential property in this state. Implementation of this
  300  program is subject to annual legislative appropriations. It is
  301  the intent of the Legislature that the My Safe Florida Home
  302  Program provide inspections for at least 400,000 site-built,
  303  single-family, residential properties and provide grants to at
  304  least 35,000 applicants before June 30, 2009. The program shall
  305  develop and implement a comprehensive and coordinated approach
  306  for hurricane damage mitigation that shall include the
  307  following:
  308         (1) HURRICANE MITIGATION INSPECTIONS.—
  309         (a) Free home-retrofit inspections of site-built, single
  310  family, residential property shall be offered throughout the
  311  state to determine what mitigation measures are needed, what
  312  insurance premium discounts may be available, and what
  313  improvements to existing residential properties are needed to
  314  reduce the property’s vulnerability to hurricane damage. The
  315  Department of Financial Services shall contract with wind
  316  certification entities to provide free hurricane mitigation
  317  inspections. The inspections provided to homeowners, at a
  318  minimum, must include:
  319         1. A home inspection and report that summarizes the results
  320  and identifies recommended improvements a homeowner may take to
  321  mitigate hurricane damage.
  322         2. A range of cost estimates regarding the recommended
  323  mitigation improvements.
  324         3. Insurer-specific information regarding premium discounts
  325  correlated to the current mitigation features and the
  326  recommended mitigation improvements identified by the
  327  inspection.
  328         4. A hurricane resistance rating scale specifying the
  329  home’s current as well as projected wind resistance
  330  capabilities. As soon as practical, the rating scale must be the
  331  uniform home grading scale adopted by the Financial Services
  332  Commission pursuant to s. 215.55865.
  333         (b) To qualify for selection by the department as a wind
  334  certification entity to provide hurricane mitigation
  335  inspections, the entity shall, at a minimum, meet the following
  336  requirements:
  337         1. Use hurricane mitigation inspectors who:
  338         a. Are certified as a building inspector under s. 468.607;
  339         b. Are licensed as a general or residential contractor
  340  under s. 489.111;
  341         c. Are licensed as a professional engineer under s. 471.015
  342  and who have passed the appropriate equivalency test of the
  343  Building Code Training Program as required by s. 553.841;
  344         d. Are licensed as a professional architect under s.
  345  481.213; or
  346         e.Are licensed home inspectors under s. 468.83; or
  347         f.e. Have at least 2 years of experience in residential
  348  construction or residential building inspection and have
  349  received specialized training in hurricane mitigation
  350  procedures. Such training may be provided by a class offered
  351  online or in person.
  352         2. Use hurricane mitigation inspectors who also:
  353         a. Have undergone drug testing and level 2 background
  354  checks pursuant to s. 435.04. The department may conduct
  355  criminal record checks of inspectors used by wind certification
  356  entities. Inspectors must submit a set of the fingerprints to
  357  the department for state and national criminal history checks
  358  and must pay the fingerprint processing fee set forth in s.
  359  624.501. The fingerprints shall be sent by the department to the
  360  Department of Law Enforcement and forwarded to the Federal
  361  Bureau of Investigation for processing. The results shall be
  362  returned to the department for screening. The fingerprints shall
  363  be taken by a law enforcement agency, designated examination
  364  center, or other department-approved entity; and
  365         b. Have been certified, in a manner satisfactory to the
  366  department, to conduct the inspections.
  367         3. Provide a quality assurance program including a
  368  reinspection component.
  369         (c) The department shall implement a quality assurance
  370  program that includes a statistically valid number of
  371  reinspections.
  372         (d) An application for an inspection must contain a signed
  373  or electronically verified statement made under penalty of
  374  perjury that the applicant has submitted only a single
  375  application for that home.
  376         (e) The owner of a site-built, single-family, residential
  377  property may apply for and receive an inspection without also
  378  applying for a grant pursuant to subsection (2) and without
  379  meeting the requirements of paragraph (2)(a).
  380         Section 9. Paragraph (a) of subsection (6) of section
  381  627.351, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  382         627.351 Insurance risk apportionment plans.—
  383         (6) CITIZENS PROPERTY INSURANCE CORPORATION.—
  384         (a)1. It is the public purpose of this subsection to ensure
  385  the existence of an orderly market for property insurance for
  386  Floridians and Florida businesses. The Legislature finds that
  387  private insurers are unwilling or unable to provide affordable
  388  property insurance coverage in this state to the extent sought
  389  and needed. The absence of affordable property insurance
  390  threatens the public health, safety, and welfare and likewise
  391  threatens the economic health of the state. The state therefore
  392  has a compelling public interest and a public purpose to assist
  393  in assuring that property in the state is insured and that it is
  394  insured at affordable rates so as to facilitate the remediation,
  395  reconstruction, and replacement of damaged or destroyed property
  396  in order to reduce or avoid the negative effects otherwise
  397  resulting to the public health, safety, and welfare, to the
  398  economy of the state, and to the revenues of the state and local
  399  governments which are needed to provide for the public welfare.
  400  It is necessary, therefore, to provide affordable property
  401  insurance to applicants who are in good faith entitled to
  402  procure insurance through the voluntary market but are unable to
  403  do so. The Legislature intends by this subsection that
  404  affordable property insurance be provided and that it continue
  405  to be provided, as long as necessary, through Citizens Property
  406  Insurance Corporation, a government entity that is an integral
  407  part of the state, and that is not a private insurance company.
  408  To that end, Citizens Property Insurance Corporation shall
  409  strive to increase the availability of affordable property
  410  insurance in this state, while achieving efficiencies and
  411  economies, and while providing service to policyholders,
  412  applicants, and agents which is no less than the quality
  413  generally provided in the voluntary market, for the achievement
  414  of the foregoing public purposes. Because it is essential for
  415  this government entity to have the maximum financial resources
  416  to pay claims following a catastrophic hurricane, it is the
  417  intent of the Legislature that Citizens Property Insurance
  418  Corporation continue to be an integral part of the state and
  419  that the income of the corporation be exempt from federal income
  420  taxation and that interest on the debt obligations issued by the
  421  corporation be exempt from federal income taxation.
  422         2. The Residential Property and Casualty Joint Underwriting
  423  Association originally created by this statute shall be known,
  424  as of July 1, 2002, as the Citizens Property Insurance
  425  Corporation. The corporation shall provide insurance for
  426  residential and commercial property, for applicants who are in
  427  good faith entitled, but are unable, to procure insurance
  428  through the voluntary market. The corporation shall operate
  429  pursuant to a plan of operation approved by order of the
  430  Financial Services Commission. The plan is subject to continuous
  431  review by the commission. The commission may, by order, withdraw
  432  approval of all or part of a plan if the commission determines
  433  that conditions have changed since approval was granted and that
  434  the purposes of the plan require changes in the plan. The
  435  corporation shall continue to operate pursuant to the plan of
  436  operation approved by the Office of Insurance Regulation until
  437  October 1, 2006. For the purposes of this subsection,
  438  residential coverage includes both personal lines residential
  439  coverage, which consists of the type of coverage provided by
  440  homeowner’s, mobile home owner’s, dwelling, tenant’s,
  441  condominium unit owner’s, and similar policies, and commercial
  442  lines residential coverage, which consists of the type of
  443  coverage provided by condominium association, apartment
  444  building, and similar policies.
  445         3. Effective January 1, 2009, a personal lines residential
  446  structure that has a dwelling replacement cost of $2 million or
  447  more, or a single condominium unit that has a combined dwelling
  448  and content replacement cost of $2 million or more is not
  449  eligible for coverage by the corporation. Such dwellings insured
  450  by the corporation on December 31, 2008, may continue to be
  451  covered by the corporation until the end of the policy term.
  452  However, such dwellings that are insured by the corporation and
  453  become ineligible for coverage due to the provisions of this
  454  subparagraph may reapply and obtain coverage if the property
  455  owner provides the corporation with a sworn affidavit from one
  456  or more insurance agents, on a form provided by the corporation,
  457  stating that the agents have made their best efforts to obtain
  458  coverage and that the property has been rejected for coverage by
  459  at least one authorized insurer and at least three surplus lines
  460  insurers. If such conditions are met, the dwelling may be
  461  insured by the corporation for up to 3 years, after which time
  462  the dwelling is ineligible for coverage. The office shall
  463  approve the method used by the corporation for valuing the
  464  dwelling replacement cost for the purposes of this subparagraph.
  465  If a policyholder is insured by the corporation prior to being
  466  determined to be ineligible pursuant to this subparagraph and
  467  such policyholder files a lawsuit challenging the determination,
  468  the policyholder may remain insured by the corporation until the
  469  conclusion of the litigation.
  470         4. It is the intent of the Legislature that policyholders,
  471  applicants, and agents of the corporation receive service and
  472  treatment of the highest possible level but never less than that
  473  generally provided in the voluntary market. It also is intended
  474  that the corporation be held to service standards no less than
  475  those applied to insurers in the voluntary market by the office
  476  with respect to responsiveness, timeliness, customer courtesy,
  477  and overall dealings with policyholders, applicants, or agents
  478  of the corporation.
  479         5. Effective January 1, 2009, a personal lines residential
  480  structure that is located in the “wind-borne debris region,” as
  481  defined in s. 1609.2, International Building Code (2006), and
  482  that has an insured value on the structure of $750,000 or more
  483  is not eligible for coverage by the corporation unless the
  484  structure has opening protections as required under the Florida
  485  Building Code for a newly constructed residential structure in
  486  that area. A residential structure shall be deemed to comply
  487  with the requirements of this subparagraph if it has shutters or
  488  opening protections on all openings and if such opening
  489  protections complied with the Florida Building Code at the time
  490  they were installed. Effective January 1, 2010, for personal
  491  lines residential property insured by the corporation that is
  492  located in the wind-borne debris region and has an insured value
  493  on the structure of $500,000 or more, a prospective purchaser of
  494  any such residential property must be provided by the seller a
  495  written disclosure that contains the structure’s windstorm
  496  mitigation rating based on the uniform home grading scale
  497  adopted under s. 215.55865. Such rating shall be provided to the
  498  purchaser at or before the time the purchaser executes a
  499  contract for sale and purchase.
  500         Section 10. Subsection (6) of section 718.113, Florida
  501  Statutes, is repealed.
  502         Section 11. Subsections (1), (2), (8), and (9) of section
  503  553.37, Florida Statutes, are amended, and section (12) is added
  504  to that section, to read:
  505         553.37 Rules; inspections; and insignia.—
  506         (1) The Florida Building Commission shall adopt within the
  507  Florida Building Code requirements for construction or
  508  modification of manufactured buildings and building modules, to
  509  address:
  510         (a) Submittal to and approval by the department of
  511  manufacturers’ drawings and specifications, including any
  512  amendments.
  513         (b) Submittal to and approval by the department of
  514  manufacturers’ internal quality control procedures and manuals,
  515  including any amendments.
  516         (c)Minimum inspection criteria.
  517         (2) The department shall adopt rules to address:
  518         (a) Procedures and qualifications for approval of third
  519  party plan review and inspection agencies and of those who
  520  perform inspections and plan reviews.
  521         (b) Investigation of consumer complaints of noncompliance
  522  of manufactured buildings with the Florida Building Code and the
  523  Florida Fire Prevention Code.
  524         (c)Inspection criteria applicable to manufactured
  525  buildings which are consistent with the requirements of s.
  526  553.73(4)(a), and which account for the repetitive nature of the
  527  manufacturing activity, observed violations of the Florida
  528  Building Code, or deviations from applicable rules with varying
  529  frequency or applicability of particular inspection.
  530         (d)(c) Issuance, cancellation, and revocation of any
  531  insignia issued by the department and procedures for auditing
  532  and accounting for disposition of them.
  533         (e)(d) Monitoring the manufacturers’, inspection agencies’,
  534  and plan review agencies’ compliance with this part and the
  535  Florida Building Code. Monitoring may include, but is not
  536  limited to, performing audits of plans, inspections of
  537  manufacturing facilities and observation of the manufacturing
  538  and inspection process, and onsite inspections of buildings.
  539         (f)(e) The performance by the department and its designees
  540  and contractors of any other functions required by this part.
  541         (8) The department, by rule, shall establish a schedule of
  542  fees to pay the cost of the administration and enforcement of
  543  this part. The rule may provide for manufacturers to pay fees to
  544  the administrator directly, including charges incurred for plans
  545  review and inspection services, via the Building Code
  546  Information System (BCIS) and for the administrator to disburse
  547  the funds as necessary.
  548         (9) The department may delegate its enforcement authority
  549  to a state department having building construction
  550  responsibilities or a local government, and may enter into
  551  contracts for the performance of its administrative duties under
  552  this part. The department may delegate its plan review and
  553  inspection authority to one or more of the following in any
  554  combination:
  555         (a) A state department having building construction
  556  responsibilities;
  557         (b) A local government;
  558         (c) An approved inspection agency;
  559         (d) An approved plan review agency; or
  560         (e) An agency of another state.
  561         (12)Custom or one-of-a kind prototype manufactured
  562  buildings are not required to have state approval but must
  563  comply with all local requirements of the governmental agency
  564  having jurisdiction at the installation site.
  565         Section 12. Section 553.375, Florida Statutes, is amended
  566  to read:
  567         553.375 Recertification of manufactured buildings.—Prior to
  568  the relocation to a site with a higher design wind speed,
  569  modification, or change of occupancy of a manufactured building
  570  within the state, the manufacturer, dealer, or owner thereof may
  571  apply to the department for recertification of that manufactured
  572  building. The department shall, by rule, provide what
  573  information the applicant must submit for recertification and
  574  for plan review and inspection of such manufactured buildings
  575  and shall establish fees for recertification. Upon a
  576  determination by the department that the manufactured building
  577  complies with the applicable building codes, the department
  578  shall issue a recertification insignia. A manufactured building
  579  that bears recertification insignia does not require any
  580  additional approval by an enforcement jurisdiction in which the
  581  building is sold or installed, and is considered to comply with
  582  all applicable codes. As an alternative to recertification by
  583  the department, the manufacturer, dealer, or owner of a
  584  manufactured building may seek appropriate permitting and a
  585  certificate of occupancy from the local jurisdiction in
  586  accordance with procedures generally applicable under the
  587  Florida Building Code.
  588         Section 13. Subsections (7), (8), and (9) of section
  589  553.73, Florida Statutes, are amended, and subsection (14) is
  590  added to that section, to read:
  591         553.73 Florida Building Code.—
  592         (7) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (3) or
  593  subsection (6), the commission may address issues identified in
  594  this subsection by amending the code pursuant only to the rule
  595  adoption procedures contained in chapter 120. Provisions of the
  596  Florida Building Code, including those contained in referenced
  597  standards and criteria, relating to wind resistance or the
  598  prevention of water intrusion may not be amended pursuant to
  599  this subsection to diminish those construction requirements;
  600  however, the commission may, subject to conditions in this
  601  subsection, amend the provisions to enhance those construction
  602  requirements. Following the approval of any amendments to the
  603  Florida Building Code by the commission and publication of the
  604  amendments on the commission’s website, authorities having
  605  jurisdiction to enforce the Florida Building Code may enforce
  606  the amendments. The commission may approve amendments that are
  607  needed to address:
  608         (a) Conflicts within the updated code;
  609         (b) Conflicts between the updated code and the Florida Fire
  610  Prevention Code adopted pursuant to chapter 633;
  611         (c) The omission of previously adopted Florida-specific
  612  amendments to the updated code if such omission is not supported
  613  by a specific recommendation of a technical advisory committee
  614  or particular action by the commission;
  615         (d) Unintended results from the integration of previously
  616  adopted Florida-specific amendments with the model code;
  617         (e)Equivalency of standards;
  618         (f)The specific needs of state agencies when agency rules
  619  must be updated to reflect federal requirements relating to
  620  design criteria for public educational facilities and state
  621  licensed facilities;
  622         (g)(e) Changes to federal or state law; or
  623         (h)(f) Adoption of an updated edition of the National
  624  Electrical Code if the commission finds that delay of
  625  implementing the updated edition causes undue hardship to
  626  stakeholders or otherwise threatens the public health, safety,
  627  and welfare.
  628         (8)(a) The commission may approve technical amendments to
  629  the Florida Building Code once each year for statewide or
  630  regional application upon a finding that the amendment:
  631         1. Is needed in order to accommodate the specific needs of
  632  this state.
  633         2. Has a reasonable and substantial connection with the
  634  health, safety, and welfare of the general public.
  635         3. Strengthens or improves the Florida Building Code, or in
  636  the case of innovation or new technology, will provide
  637  equivalent or better products or methods or systems of
  638  construction.
  639         4. Does not discriminate against materials, products,
  640  methods, or systems of construction of demonstrated
  641  capabilities.
  642         5. Does not degrade the effectiveness of the Florida
  643  Building Code.
  644  
  645  Furthermore, the Florida Building Commission may approve
  646  technical amendments to the code once each year to incorporate
  647  into the Florida Building Code its own interpretations of the
  648  code which are embodied in its opinions, final orders,
  649  declaratory statements, and interpretations of hearing officer
  650  panels under s. 553.775(3)(c), but shall do so only to the
  651  extent that incorporation of interpretations is needed to modify
  652  the foundation codes to accommodate the specific needs of this
  653  state. Amendments approved under this paragraph shall be adopted
  654  by rule pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54, after the
  655  amendments have been subjected to the provisions of subsection
  656  (3).
  657         (b) A proposed amendment shall include a fiscal impact
  658  statement which documents the costs and benefits of the proposed
  659  amendment. Criteria for the fiscal impact statement shall be
  660  established by rule by the commission and shall include the
  661  impact to local government relative to enforcement, the impact
  662  to property and building owners, as well as to industry,
  663  relative to the cost of compliance.
  664         (c) The commission may not approve any proposed amendment
  665  that does not accurately and completely address all requirements
  666  for amendment which are set forth in this section. The
  667  commission shall require all proposed amendments and information
  668  submitted with proposed amendments to be reviewed by commission
  669  staff prior to consideration by any technical advisory
  670  committee. These reviews shall be for sufficiency only and are
  671  not intended to be qualitative in nature. Staff members shall
  672  reject any proposed amendment that fails to include a fiscal
  673  impact statement. Proposed amendments rejected by members of the
  674  staff may not be considered by the commission or any technical
  675  advisory committee.
  676         (d) Provisions of the Florida Building Code, including
  677  those contained in referenced standards and criteria, relating
  678  to wind resistance or the prevention of water intrusion may not
  679  be amended pursuant to this subsection to diminish those
  680  construction requirements; however, the commission may, subject
  681  to conditions in this subsection, amend the provisions to
  682  enhance those construction requirements.
  683         (9) The following buildings, structures, and facilities are
  684  exempt from the Florida Building Code as provided by law, and
  685  any further exemptions shall be as determined by the Legislature
  686  and provided by law:
  687         (a) Buildings and structures specifically regulated and
  688  preempted by the Federal Government.
  689         (b) Railroads and ancillary facilities associated with the
  690  railroad.
  691         (c) Nonresidential farm buildings on farms.
  692         (d) Temporary buildings or sheds used exclusively for
  693  construction purposes.
  694         (e) Mobile or modular structures used as temporary offices,
  695  except that the provisions of part II relating to accessibility
  696  by persons with disabilities shall apply to such mobile or
  697  modular structures.
  698         (f) Those structures or facilities of electric utilities,
  699  as defined in s. 366.02, which are directly involved in the
  700  generation, transmission, or distribution of electricity.
  701         (g) Temporary sets, assemblies, or structures used in
  702  commercial motion picture or television production, or any
  703  sound-recording equipment used in such production, on or off the
  704  premises.
  705         (h) Storage sheds that are not designed for human
  706  habitation and that have a floor area of 720 square feet or less
  707  are not required to comply with the mandatory wind-borne-debris
  708  impact standards of the Florida Building Code.
  709         (i) Chickees constructed by the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians
  710  of Florida or the Seminole Tribe of Florida. As used in this
  711  paragraph, the term “chickee” means an open-sided wooden hut
  712  that has a thatched roof of palm or palmetto or other
  713  traditional materials, and that does not incorporate any
  714  electrical, plumbing, or other nonwood features.
  715  
  716  With the exception of paragraphs (a), (b), (c), and (f), in
  717  order to preserve the health, safety, and welfare of the public,
  718  the Florida Building Commission may, by rule adopted pursuant to
  719  chapter 120, provide for exceptions to the broad categories of
  720  buildings exempted in this section, including exceptions for
  721  application of specific sections of the code or standards
  722  adopted therein. The Department of Agriculture and Consumer
  723  Services shall have exclusive authority to adopt by rule,
  724  pursuant to chapter 120, exceptions to nonresidential farm
  725  buildings exempted in paragraph (c) when reasonably necessary to
  726  preserve public health, safety, and welfare. The exceptions must
  727  be based upon specific criteria, such as under-roof floor area,
  728  aggregate electrical service capacity, HVAC system capacity, or
  729  other building requirements. Further, the commission may
  730  recommend to the Legislature additional categories of buildings,
  731  structures, or facilities which should be exempted from the
  732  Florida Building Code, to be provided by law. The Florida
  733  Building Code does not apply to temporary housing provided by
  734  the Department of Corrections to any prisoner in the state
  735  correctional system.
  736         (14)The Florida Building Code may not require that an
  737  existing air conditioning system installed on the surface of a
  738  roof as of July 1, 2009, be raised 18 inches up from the surface
  739  on which they are installed until such time as the system is
  740  replaced, and an agency or local government having authority to
  741  enforce the Florida Building Code or a local building code may
  742  not require otherwise.
  743         Section 14. Subsection (5) is added to section 553.74,
  744  Florida Statutes, to read:
  745         553.74 Florida Building Commission.—
  746         (5)Notwithstanding any other law, a member of the
  747  commission’s technical advisory committees or other advisory
  748  committee or workgroup does not have an impermissible conflict
  749  of interest when representing clients before the commission or
  750  one of the commission’s workgroups, except that such member may
  751  not be part of any discussion or take action as a technical
  752  advisory committee member or member of an advisory committee or
  753  workgroup on any matter in which the member has a direct
  754  financial interest.
  755         Section 15. Subsection (2) of section 553.76, Florida
  756  Statutes, is amended to read:
  757         553.76 General powers of the commission.—The commission is
  758  authorized to:
  759         (2) Issue memoranda of procedure for its internal
  760  management and control. The commission may adopt rules related
  761  to its consensus-based decisionmaking process, including, but
  762  not limited to, super majority voting requirements for
  763  commission actions relating to adoption of amendments to or
  764  adoption of the Florida Building Code.
  765         Section 16. Subsection (4) of section 553.775, Florida
  766  Statutes, is amended to read:
  767         553.775 Interpretations.—
  768         (4) In order to administer this section, the commission may
  769  adopt by rule and impose a fee for binding and nonbinding
  770  interpretations to recoup the cost of the proceedings which may
  771  not exceed $250 for each request for a review or interpretation.
  772  For proceedings conducted by or in coordination with a third
  773  party, the rule may provide that payment be made directly to the
  774  third party, who shall remit to the department that portion of
  775  the fee necessary to cover the costs of the department.
  776         Section 17. Subsection (9) of section 553.79, Florida
  777  Statutes, is amended to read:
  778         553.79 Permits; applications; issuance; inspections.—
  779         (9) Any state agency whose enabling legislation authorizes
  780  it to enforce provisions of the Florida Building Code may enter
  781  into an agreement with any other unit of government to delegate
  782  its responsibility to enforce those provisions and may expend
  783  public funds for permit and inspection fees, which fees may be
  784  no greater than the fees charged others. Inspection services not
  785  required to be performed by a state agency under a federal
  786  delegation of responsibility or by a state agency under the
  787  Florida Building Code must be performed under the alternative
  788  plans review and inspection process created in s. 553.791 or by
  789  a local governmental entity having authority to enforce the
  790  Florida Building Code.
  791         Section 18. Section 553.841, Florida Statutes, is amended
  792  to read:
  793         553.841 Building code compliance and mitigation program.—
  794         (1) The Legislature finds that knowledge and understanding
  795  by persons licensed in the design and construction industries of
  796  the importance and need for complying with the Florida Building
  797  Code is vital to the public health, safety, and welfare of this
  798  state, especially for mitigating damage caused by hurricanes to
  799  residents and visitors to the state. The Legislature further
  800  finds that the Florida Building Code can be effective only if
  801  all participants in the design and construction industries
  802  maintain a thorough knowledge of the code and additions thereto
  803  which improve construction standards to protect against storm
  804  and other damage. Consequently, the Legislature finds that there
  805  is a need for a program to provide ongoing education and
  806  outreach activities concerning compliance with the Florida
  807  Building Code and hurricane mitigation.
  808         (2) The Department of Community Affairs shall administer a
  809  program, designated as the Florida Building Code Compliance and
  810  Mitigation Program, to develop, coordinate, and maintain
  811  education and outreach to persons required to comply with the
  812  Florida Building Code and ensure consistent education, training,
  813  and communication of the code’s requirements, including, but not
  814  limited to, methods for mitigation of storm-related damage. The
  815  program shall also operate a clearinghouse through which design,
  816  construction, and building code enforcement licensees,
  817  suppliers, and consumers in this state may find others in order
  818  to exchange information relating to mitigation and facilitate
  819  repairs in the aftermath of a natural disaster.
  820         (3) All services and materials under the Florida Building
  821  Code Compliance and Mitigation Program must be provided by a
  822  private, nonprofit corporation under contract with the
  823  department. The term of the contract shall be for 4 years, with
  824  the option of one 4-year renewal at the end of the contract
  825  term. The initial contract must be in effect no later than
  826  November 1, 2007. The private, nonprofit corporation must be an
  827  organization whose membership includes trade and professional
  828  organizations whose members consist primarily of persons and
  829  entities that are required to comply with the Florida Building
  830  Code and that are licensed under part XII of chapter 468,
  831  chapter 471, chapter 481, or chapter 489. When selecting the
  832  private, nonprofit corporation for the program, the department
  833  must give primary consideration to the corporation’s
  834  demonstrated experience and the ability to:
  835         (a) Develop and deliver building code-related education,
  836  training, and outreach;
  837         (b) Directly access the majority of persons licensed in the
  838  occupations of design, construction, and building code
  839  enforcement individually and through established statewide trade
  840  and professional association networks;
  841         (c) Serve as a clearinghouse to deliver education and
  842  outreach throughout the state. The clearinghouse must serve as a
  843  focal point at which persons licensed to design, construct, and
  844  enforce building codes and suppliers and consumers can find each
  845  other in order to exchange information relating to mitigation
  846  and facilitate repairs in the aftermath of a natural disaster;
  847         (d) Accept input from the Florida Building Commission,
  848  licensing regulatory boards, local building departments, and the
  849  design and construction industries in order to improve its
  850  education and outreach programs; and
  851         (e) Promote design and construction techniques and
  852  materials for mitigating hurricane damage at a Florida-based
  853  trade conference that includes participants from the broadest
  854  possible range of design and construction trades and
  855  professions, including from those private and public sector
  856  entities having jurisdiction over building codes and design and
  857  construction licensure.
  858         (4) The department, in administering the Florida Building
  859  Code Compliance and Mitigation Program, shall maintain, update,
  860  develop, or cause to be developed:
  861         (a)A core curriculum that is prerequisite to the advanced
  862  module coursework.
  863         (b) Advanced modules designed for use by each profession.
  864         (c)The core curriculum developed under this subsection
  865  must be submitted to the Department of Business and Professional
  866  Regulation for approval. Advanced modules developed under this
  867  paragraph must be approved by the commission and submitted to
  868  the respective boards for approval.
  869         (5)The core curriculum shall cover the information
  870  required to have all categories of participants appropriately
  871  informed as to their technical and administrative
  872  responsibilities in the effective execution of the code process
  873  by all individuals currently licensed under part XII of chapter
  874  468, chapter 471, chapter 481, or chapter 489, except as
  875  otherwise provided in s. 471.017. The core curriculum shall be
  876  prerequisite to the advanced module coursework for all licensees
  877  and shall be completed by individuals licensed in all categories
  878  under part XII of chapter 468, chapter 471, chapter 481, or
  879  chapter 489 within the first 2-year period after initial
  880  licensure. Core course hours taken by licensees to complete this
  881  requirement shall count toward fulfillment of required
  882  continuing education units under part XII of chapter 468,
  883  chapter 471, chapter 481, or chapter 489.
  884         (5)(6) Each biennium, upon receipt of funds by the
  885  Department of Community Affairs from the Construction Industry
  886  Licensing Board and the Electrical Contractors’ Licensing Board
  887  provided under ss. 489.109(3) and 489.509(3), the department
  888  shall determine the amount of funds available for the Florida
  889  Building Code Compliance and Mitigation Program.
  890         (6)(7) If the projects provided through the Florida
  891  Building Code Compliance and Mitigation Program in any state
  892  fiscal year do not require the use of all available funds, the
  893  unused funds shall be carried forward and allocated for use
  894  during the following fiscal year.
  895         (7)(8) The Florida Building Commission shall provide by
  896  rule for the accreditation of courses related to the Florida
  897  Building Code by accreditors approved by the commission. The
  898  commission shall establish qualifications of accreditors and
  899  criteria for the accreditation of courses by rule. The
  900  commission may revoke the accreditation of a course by an
  901  accreditor if the accreditation is demonstrated to violate this
  902  part or the rules of the commission.
  903         (8)(9) This section does not prohibit or limit the subject
  904  areas or development of continuing education or training on the
  905  Florida Building Code by any qualified entity.
  906         Section 19. Subsections (1), (5), (8), and (17) of section
  907  553.842, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  908         553.842 Product evaluation and approval.—
  909         (1) The commission shall adopt rules under ss. 120.536(1)
  910  and 120.54 to develop and implement a product evaluation and
  911  approval system that applies statewide to operate in
  912  coordination with the Florida Building Code. The commission may
  913  enter into contracts to provide for administration of the
  914  product evaluation and approval system. The commission’s rules
  915  and any applicable contract may provide that payment of fees
  916  related to approvals be made directly to the administrator who
  917  shall remit to the department that portion of the fee necessary
  918  to cover the department’s costs. The product evaluation and
  919  approval system shall provide:
  920         (a) Appropriate promotion of innovation and new
  921  technologies.
  922         (b) Processing submittals of products from manufacturers in
  923  a timely manner.
  924         (c) Independent, third-party qualified and accredited
  925  testing and laboratory facilities, product evaluation entities,
  926  quality assurance agencies, certification agencies, and
  927  validation entities.
  928         (d) An easily accessible product acceptance list to
  929  entities subject to the Florida Building Code.
  930         (e) Development of stringent but reasonable testing
  931  criteria based upon existing consensus standards, when
  932  available, for products.
  933         (f) Long-term approvals, where feasible. State and local
  934  approvals will be valid until the requirements of the code on
  935  which the approval is based change, the product changes in a
  936  manner affecting its performance as required by the code, or the
  937  approval is revoked.
  938         (g) Criteria for revocation of a product approval.
  939         (h) Cost-effectiveness.
  940         (5) Statewide approval of products, methods, or systems of
  941  construction may be achieved by one of the following methods.
  942  One of these methods must be used by the commission to approve
  943  the following categories of products: panel walls, exterior
  944  doors, roofing, skylights, windows, shutters, and structural
  945  components as established by the commission by rule.
  946         (a) Products for which the code establishes standardized
  947  testing or comparative or rational analysis methods shall be
  948  approved by submittal and validation of one of the following
  949  reports or listings indicating that the product or method or
  950  system of construction was evaluated to be in compliance with
  951  the Florida Building Code and that the product or method or
  952  system of construction is, for the purpose intended, at least
  953  equivalent to that required by the Florida Building Code:
  954         1. A certification mark or listing of an approved
  955  certification agency, which may be used only for products for
  956  which the code designates standardized testing;
  957         2. A test report from an approved testing laboratory;
  958         3. A product evaluation report based upon testing or
  959  comparative or rational analysis, or a combination thereof, from
  960  an approved product evaluation entity; or
  961         4. A product evaluation report based upon testing or
  962  comparative or rational analysis, or a combination thereof,
  963  developed and signed and sealed by a professional engineer or
  964  architect, licensed in this state.
  965  
  966  A product evaluation report or a certification mark or listing
  967  of an approved certification agency which demonstrates that the
  968  product or method or system of construction complies with the
  969  Florida Building Code for the purpose intended shall be
  970  equivalent to a test report and test procedure as referenced in
  971  the Florida Building Code. An application for state approval of
  972  a product under subparagraph 1. shall be approved by the
  973  department after the commission staff or a designee verifies
  974  within 10 days after receipt that the application and related
  975  documentation are complete. Upon approval by the department, the
  976  product shall be immediately added to the list of state-approved
  977  products maintained under subsection (13). Approvals by the
  978  department shall be reviewed and ratified by the commission’s
  979  program oversight committee except for a showing of good cause.
  980         (b) Products, methods, or systems of construction for which
  981  there are no specific standardized testing or comparative or
  982  rational analysis methods established in the code may be
  983  approved by submittal and validation of one of the following:
  984         1. A product evaluation report based upon testing or
  985  comparative or rational analysis, or a combination thereof, from
  986  an approved product evaluation entity indicating that the
  987  product or method or system of construction was evaluated to be
  988  in compliance with the intent of the Florida Building Code and
  989  that the product or method or system of construction is, for the
  990  purpose intended, at least equivalent to that required by the
  991  Florida Building Code; or
  992         2. A product evaluation report based upon testing or
  993  comparative or rational analysis, or a combination thereof,
  994  developed and signed and sealed by a professional engineer or
  995  architect, licensed in this state, who certifies that the
  996  product or method or system of construction is, for the purpose
  997  intended, at least equivalent to that required by the Florida
  998  Building Code.
  999         (8) The commission may adopt rules to approve the following
 1000  types of entities that produce information on which product
 1001  approvals are based. All of the following entities, including
 1002  engineers and architects, must comply with a nationally
 1003  recognized standard demonstrating independence or no conflict of
 1004  interest:
 1005         (a) Evaluation entities that meet the criteria for approval
 1006  adopted by the commission by rule. The commission shall
 1007  specifically approve the National Evaluation Service, the
 1008  International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials
 1009  Evaluation Service the International Conference of Building
 1010  Officials Evaluation Services, the International Code Council
 1011  Evaluation Services, the Building Officials and Code
 1012  Administrators International Evaluation Services, the Southern
 1013  Building Code Congress International Evaluation Services, and
 1014  the Miami-Dade County Building Code Compliance Office Product
 1015  Control. Architects and engineers licensed in this state are
 1016  also approved to conduct product evaluations as provided in
 1017  subsection (5).
 1018         (b) Testing laboratories accredited by national
 1019  organizations, such as A2LA and the National Voluntary
 1020  Laboratory Accreditation Program, laboratories accredited by
 1021  evaluation entities approved under paragraph (a), and
 1022  laboratories that comply with other guidelines for testing
 1023  laboratories selected by the commission and adopted by rule.
 1024         (c) Quality assurance entities approved by evaluation
 1025  entities approved under paragraph (a) and by certification
 1026  agencies approved under paragraph (d) and other quality
 1027  assurance entities that comply with guidelines selected by the
 1028  commission and adopted by rule.
 1029         (d) Certification agencies accredited by nationally
 1030  recognized accreditors and other certification agencies that
 1031  comply with guidelines selected by the commission and adopted by
 1032  rule.
 1033         (e) Validation entities that comply with accreditation
 1034  standards established by the commission by rule.
 1035         (17)(a)The Florida Building Commission shall review the
 1036  list of evaluation entities in subsection (8) and, in the annual
 1037  report required under s. 553.77, shall either recommend
 1038  amendments to the list to add evaluation entities the commission
 1039  determines should be authorized to perform product evaluations
 1040  or shall report on the criteria adopted by rule or to be adopted
 1041  by rule allowing the commission to approve evaluation entities
 1042  that use the commission’s product evaluation process. If the
 1043  commission adopts criteria by rule, the rulemaking process must
 1044  be completed by July 1, 2009.
 1045         (b)Notwithstanding paragraph (8)(a), the International
 1046  Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials Evaluation
 1047  Services is approved as an evaluation entity until October 1,
 1048  2009. If the association does not obtain permanent approval by
 1049  the commission as an evaluation entity by October 1, 2009,
 1050  products approved on the basis of an association evaluation must
 1051  be substituted by an alternative, approved entity by December
 1052  31, 2009, and on January 1, 2010, any product approval issued by
 1053  the commission based on an association evaluation is void.
 1054         Section 20. Section 553.885, Florida Statutes, is amended
 1055  to read:
 1056         553.885 Carbon monoxide alarm required.—
 1057         (1) Every building, other than a hospital, an inpatient
 1058  hospice facility, or a nursing home facility licensed by the
 1059  Agency for Health Care Administration, constructed for which a
 1060  building permit is issued for new construction on or after July
 1061  1, 2008, and having a fossil-fuel-burning heater or appliance, a
 1062  fireplace, or an attached garage, or other feature, fixture, or
 1063  element that emits carbon monoxide as a byproduct of combustion
 1064  shall have an approved operational carbon monoxide alarm
 1065  installed within 10 feet of each room used for sleeping purposes
 1066  or at such other locations as required by the Florida Building
 1067  Code. The requirements of this subsection may be satisfied with
 1068  the installation of a battery-powered carbon monoxide alarm or a
 1069  battery-powered combination carbon monoxide and smoke alarm. For
 1070  a new hospital, an inpatient hospice facility, or a nursing home
 1071  facility licensed by the Agency for Health Care Administration,
 1072  an approved operational carbon monoxide detector shall be
 1073  installed inside or directly outside of each room or area within
 1074  the hospital or facility where a fossil-fuel-burning heater,
 1075  engine, or appliance is located. This detector shall be
 1076  connected to the fire alarm system of the hospital or facility
 1077  as a supervisory signal.
 1078         (2) The Florida Building Commission shall adopt rules to
 1079  administer this section and shall incorporate such requirements
 1080  into its next revision of the Florida Building Code.
 1081         (3) As used in this section, the term:
 1082         (a) “Carbon monoxide alarm” means a device that is meant
 1083  for the purpose of detecting carbon monoxide, that produces a
 1084  distinct audible alarm, and that meets the requirements of and
 1085  is approved by the Florida Building Commission.
 1086         (b) “Fossil fuel” means coal, kerosene, oil, fuel gases, or
 1087  other petroleum or hydrocarbon product that emits carbon
 1088  monoxide as a by-product of combustion.
 1089         Section 21. Paragraph (d) of subsection (3) of section
 1090  468.609, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 1091         468.609 Administration of this part; standards for
 1092  certification; additional categories of certification.—
 1093         (3) A person may take the examination for certification as
 1094  a building code administrator pursuant to this part if the
 1095  person:
 1096         (d)After the building code training program is established
 1097  under s. 553.841, demonstrates successful completion of the core
 1098  curriculum approved by the Florida Building Commission,
 1099  appropriate to the licensing category sought.
 1100         Section 22. Subsection (6) of section 468.627, Florida
 1101  Statutes, is repealed.
 1102         Section 23. Section 471.0195, Florida Statutes, is amended
 1103  to read:
 1104         471.0195 Florida Building Code training for engineers.—All
 1105  licensees actively participating in the design of engineering
 1106  works or systems in connection with buildings, structures, or
 1107  facilities and systems covered by the Florida Building Code
 1108  shall take continuing education courses and submit proof to the
 1109  board, at such times and in such manner as established by the
 1110  board by rule, that the licensee has completed the core
 1111  curriculum courses and any specialized or advanced courses on
 1112  any portion of the Florida Building Code applicable to the
 1113  licensee’s area of practice or has passed the appropriate
 1114  equivalency test of the Building Code Training Program as
 1115  required by s. 553.841. The board shall record reported
 1116  continuing education courses on a system easily accessed by code
 1117  enforcement jurisdictions for evaluation when determining
 1118  license status for purposes of processing design documents.
 1119  Local jurisdictions shall be responsible for notifying the board
 1120  when design documents are submitted for building construction
 1121  permits by persons who are not in compliance with this section.
 1122  The board shall take appropriate action as provided by its rules
 1123  when such noncompliance is determined to exist.
 1124         Section 24. Subsection (5) of section 481.215, Florida
 1125  Statutes, is repealed.
 1126         Section 25. Subsection (5) of section 481.313, Florida
 1127  Statutes, is repealed.
 1128         Section 26. Paragraph (b) of subsection (4) of section
 1129  489.115, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 1130         489.115 Certification and registration; endorsement;
 1131  reciprocity; renewals; continuing education.—
 1132         (4)
 1133         (b)1. Each certificateholder or registrant shall provide
 1134  proof, in a form established by rule of the board, that the
 1135  certificateholder or registrant has completed at least 14
 1136  classroom hours of at least 50 minutes each of continuing
 1137  education courses during each biennium since the issuance or
 1138  renewal of the certificate or registration. The board shall
 1139  establish by rule that a portion of the required 14 hours must
 1140  deal with the subject of workers’ compensation, business
 1141  practices, workplace safety, and, for applicable licensure
 1142  categories, wind mitigation methodologies, and 1 hour of which
 1143  must deal with laws and rules. The board shall by rule establish
 1144  criteria for the approval of continuing education courses and
 1145  providers, including requirements relating to the content of
 1146  courses and standards for approval of providers, and may by rule
 1147  establish criteria for accepting alternative nonclassroom
 1148  continuing education on an hour-for-hour basis. The board shall
 1149  prescribe by rule the continuing education, if any, which is
 1150  required during the first biennium of initial licensure. A
 1151  person who has been licensed for less than an entire biennium
 1152  must not be required to complete the full 14 hours of continuing
 1153  education.
 1154         2. In addition, the board may approve specialized
 1155  continuing education courses on compliance with the wind
 1156  resistance provisions for one and two family dwellings contained
 1157  in the Florida Building Code and any alternate methodologies for
 1158  providing such wind resistance which have been approved for use
 1159  by the Florida Building Commission. Division I
 1160  certificateholders or registrants who demonstrate proficiency
 1161  upon completion of such specialized courses may certify plans
 1162  and specifications for one and two family dwellings to be in
 1163  compliance with the code or alternate methodologies, as
 1164  appropriate, except for dwellings located in floodways or
 1165  coastal hazard areas as defined in ss. 60.3D and E of the
 1166  National Flood Insurance Program.
 1167         3.Each certificateholder or registrant shall provide to
 1168  the board proof of completion of the core curriculum courses, or
 1169  passing the equivalency test of the Building Code Training
 1170  Program established under s. 553.841, specific to the licensing
 1171  category sought, within 2 years after commencement of the
 1172  program or of initial certification or registration, whichever
 1173  is later. Classroom hours spent taking core curriculum courses
 1174  shall count toward the number required for renewal of
 1175  certificates or registration. A certificateholder or registrant
 1176  who passes the equivalency test in lieu of taking the core
 1177  curriculum courses shall receive full credit for core curriculum
 1178  course hours.
 1179         3.4. The board shall require, by rule adopted pursuant to
 1180  ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54, a specified number of hours in
 1181  specialized or advanced module courses, approved by the Florida
 1182  Building Commission, on any portion of the Florida Building
 1183  Code, adopted pursuant to part IV of chapter 553, relating to
 1184  the contractor’s respective discipline.
 1185         Section 27. Subsection (1) of section 489.1455, Florida
 1186  Statutes, is amended to read:
 1187         489.1455 Journeyman; reciprocity; standards.—
 1188         (1) An individual who holds a valid, active journeyman
 1189  license in the plumbing/pipe fitting, mechanical, or HVAC trades
 1190  issued by any county or municipality in this state may work as a
 1191  journeyman in the trade in which he or she is licensed in any
 1192  county or municipality of this state without taking an
 1193  additional examination or paying an additional license fee, if
 1194  he or she:
 1195         (a) Has scored at least 70 percent, or after October 1,
 1196  1997, at least 75 percent, on a proctored journeyman Block and
 1197  Associates examination or other proctored examination approved
 1198  by the board for the trade in which he or she is licensed;
 1199         (b) Has completed an apprenticeship program registered with
 1200  the Department of Labor and Employment Security and demonstrates
 1201  4 years’ verifiable practical experience in the trade for which
 1202  he or she is licensed, or demonstrates 6 years’ verifiable
 1203  practical experience in the trade for which he or she is
 1204  licensed;
 1205         (c) Has satisfactorily completed specialized and advanced
 1206  module coursework approved by the Florida Building Commission,
 1207  as part of the Building Code Training Program established in s.
 1208  553.841, specific to the discipline, and successfully completed
 1209  the program’s core curriculum courses or passed an equivalency
 1210  test in lieu of taking the core curriculum courses and provided
 1211  proof of completion of such curriculum courses or examination
 1212  and obtained a certificate from the board pursuant to this part
 1213  or, pursuant to authorization by the certifying authority,
 1214  provides proof of completion of such curriculum or coursework
 1215  within 6 months after such certification; and
 1216         (d) Has not had a license suspended or revoked within the
 1217  last 5 years.
 1218         Section 28. Subsection (3) of section 489.517, Florida
 1219  Statutes, is amended to read:
 1220         489.517 Renewal of certificate or registration; continuing
 1221  education.—
 1222         (3)(a) Each certificateholder or registrant shall provide
 1223  proof, in a form established by rule of the board, that the
 1224  certificateholder or registrant has completed at least 14
 1225  classroom hours of at least 50 minutes each of continuing
 1226  education courses during each biennium since the issuance or
 1227  renewal of the certificate or registration. The board shall by
 1228  rule establish criteria for the approval of continuing education
 1229  courses and providers and may by rule establish criteria for
 1230  accepting alternative nonclassroom continuing education on an
 1231  hour-for-hour basis.
 1232         (b)Each certificateholder or registrant shall provide to
 1233  the board proof of completion of the core curriculum courses or
 1234  passing the equivalency test of the Building Code Training
 1235  Program established under s. 553.841, specific to the licensing
 1236  category sought, within 2 years after commencement of the
 1237  program or of initial certification or registration, whichever
 1238  is later. Classroom hours spent taking core curriculum courses
 1239  shall count toward the number required for renewal of
 1240  certificate or registration. A certificateholder or registrant
 1241  who passes the equivalency test in lieu of taking the core
 1242  curriculum courses shall receive full credit for core curriculum
 1243  course hours.
 1244         Section 29. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
 1245  made by this act to section 553.79, Florida Statutes, in a
 1246  reference thereto, subsection (1) of section 553.80, Florida
 1247  Statutes, is reenacted to read:
 1248         553.80 Enforcement.—
 1249         (1) Except as provided in paragraphs (a)-(g), each local
 1250  government and each legally constituted enforcement district
 1251  with statutory authority shall regulate building construction
 1252  and, where authorized in the state agency’s enabling
 1253  legislation, each state agency shall enforce the Florida
 1254  Building Code required by this part on all public or private
 1255  buildings, structures, and facilities, unless such
 1256  responsibility has been delegated to another unit of government
 1257  pursuant to s. 553.79(9).
 1258         (a) Construction regulations relating to correctional
 1259  facilities under the jurisdiction of the Department of
 1260  Corrections and the Department of Juvenile Justice are to be
 1261  enforced exclusively by those departments.
 1262         (b) Construction regulations relating to elevator equipment
 1263  under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Elevators of the
 1264  Department of Business and Professional Regulation shall be
 1265  enforced exclusively by that department.
 1266         (c) In addition to the requirements of s. 553.79 and this
 1267  section, facilities subject to the provisions of chapter 395 and
 1268  part II of chapter 400 shall have facility plans reviewed and
 1269  construction surveyed by the state agency authorized to do so
 1270  under the requirements of chapter 395 and part II of chapter 400
 1271  and the certification requirements of the Federal Government.
 1272         (d) Building plans approved under s. 553.77(3) and state
 1273  approved manufactured buildings, including buildings
 1274  manufactured and assembled offsite and not intended for
 1275  habitation, such as lawn storage buildings and storage sheds,
 1276  are exempt from local code enforcing agency plan reviews except
 1277  for provisions of the code relating to erection, assembly, or
 1278  construction at the site. Erection, assembly, and construction
 1279  at the site are subject to local permitting and inspections.
 1280  Lawn storage buildings and storage sheds bearing the insignia of
 1281  approval of the department are not subject to s. 553.842. Such
 1282  buildings that do not exceed 400 square feet may be delivered
 1283  and installed without need of a contractor’s or specialty
 1284  license.
 1285         (e) Construction regulations governing public schools,
 1286  state universities, and community colleges shall be enforced as
 1287  provided in subsection (6).
 1288         (f) The Florida Building Code as it pertains to toll
 1289  collection facilities under the jurisdiction of the turnpike
 1290  enterprise of the Department of Transportation shall be enforced
 1291  exclusively by the turnpike enterprise.
 1292         (g) Construction regulations relating to secure mental
 1293  health treatment facilities under the jurisdiction of the
 1294  Department of Children and Family Services shall be enforced
 1295  exclusively by the department in conjunction with the Agency for
 1296  Health Care Administration’s review authority under paragraph
 1297  (c).
 1298  
 1299  The governing bodies of local governments may provide a schedule
 1300  of fees, as authorized by s. 125.56(2) or s. 166.222 and this
 1301  section, for the enforcement of the provisions of this part.
 1302  Such fees shall be used solely for carrying out the local
 1303  government’s responsibilities in enforcing the Florida Building
 1304  Code. The authority of state enforcing agencies to set fees for
 1305  enforcement shall be derived from authority existing on July 1,
 1306  1998. However, nothing contained in this subsection shall
 1307  operate to limit such agencies from adjusting their fee schedule
 1308  in conformance with existing authority.
 1309         Section 30. The Florida Building Commission is directed to
 1310  adjust the Florida Building Code for consistency with the
 1311  revisions to s. 399.02, Florida Statutes, under section 1 of
 1312  this act.
 1313         Section 31. Except as otherwise expressly required in this
 1314  act, this act shall take effect July 1, 2009.