| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to the State Fire Marshal; amending s. |
| 3 | 633.021, F.S.; revising definitions; amending s. 633.022, |
| 4 | F.S.; requiring application of uniform firesafety |
| 5 | standards to state universities; amending s. 633.025, |
| 6 | F.S.; providing authority and requirements for completion |
| 7 | of plans for and inspection of manufactured buildings at |
| 8 | the point of manufacture under certain circumstances; |
| 9 | providing for associated costs to be borne by the |
| 10 | manufacturer; authorizing the Department of Financial |
| 11 | Services to adopt rules; amending s. 633.026, F.S.; |
| 12 | providing legislative intent; requiring the State Fire |
| 13 | Marshal to establish a Fire Code Interpretation Committee |
| 14 | for certain purposes; providing eligibility requirements |
| 15 | for committee members; providing requirements for |
| 16 | nonbinding interpretations of the Florida Fire Prevention |
| 17 | Code; deleting certain legislative intent provisions; |
| 18 | requiring the Division of State Fire Marshal to charge |
| 19 | fees for nonbinding interpretations; authorizing payment |
| 20 | of fees directly to certain contracted parties; providing |
| 21 | for referral of disputed interpretations to the State Fire |
| 22 | Marshal for formal interpretation; providing requirements |
| 23 | for State Fire Marshal issuance of nonbinding code |
| 24 | interpretations; specifying nonbinding interpretation |
| 25 | petition requirements; providing procedural requirements |
| 26 | for committee review and resolution of petitions; |
| 27 | providing for issuance of interpretations by the |
| 28 | committee; providing for formal interpretations by the |
| 29 | State Fire Marshal of disputed interpretations; amending |
| 30 | s. 633.027, F.S.; specifying nonapplication of |
| 31 | requirements for light-frame truss-type buildings to |
| 32 | certain townhouses; amending s. 633.061, F.S.; providing |
| 33 | requirements and procedures for certain fire equipment |
| 34 | dealers wishing to withdraw a previously filed halon |
| 35 | equipment exemption affidavit; requiring fees; revising |
| 36 | continuing education requirements for renewal of certain |
| 37 | fire suppression equipment licenses and permits; providing |
| 38 | equipment inspection requirements for license applicants |
| 39 | with facilities outside this state; deleting provisions |
| 40 | relating to license examinations and applications after |
| 41 | failing certain examinations; providing requirements for |
| 42 | licensed fire equipment dealers to downgrade certain |
| 43 | licenses, including a fee; requiring certain applicants to |
| 44 | undertake a completely new application process under |
| 45 | certain circumstances and satisfy certain requirements; |
| 46 | amending s. 633.071, F.S.; revising State Fire Marshal |
| 47 | rulemaking authority relating to specifications for |
| 48 | standard service tags for certain equipment; amending s. |
| 49 | 633.081, F.S.; revising requirements and procedures for |
| 50 | inspections of buildings and equipment; revising |
| 51 | eligibility requirements for firesafety inspection |
| 52 | personnel; abolishing special state firesafety inspector |
| 53 | classifications and certifications; providing criteria, |
| 54 | procedures, and requirements for special state firesafety |
| 55 | inspectors to be certified as firesafety inspectors; |
| 56 | authorizing the State Fire Marshal to develop an advanced |
| 57 | training and certification program for certain firesafety |
| 58 | inspectors; specifying program requirements; requiring the |
| 59 | State Fire Marshal and the Florida Building Code |
| 60 | Administrators and Inspectors Board to enter into a |
| 61 | reciprocity agreement to recognize certain continuing |
| 62 | education recertification hours for certain purposes; |
| 63 | amending s. 633.082, F.S.; specifying required procedures |
| 64 | for inspections of certain alarm systems, fire control |
| 65 | systems, fire hydrants, and fire protection systems; |
| 66 | requiring owners to replace fire sprinkler heads subject |
| 67 | to government-mandated recalls; amending s. 633.085, F.S.; |
| 68 | revising provisions relating to state buildings subject to |
| 69 | inspections by the State Fire Marshal; amending s. |
| 70 | 633.161, F.S.; providing an additional violation subject |
| 71 | to certain cease and desist orders; providing that |
| 72 | violation of or failure to comply with such an order is a |
| 73 | misdemeanor subject to certain penalties; amending s. |
| 74 | 633.30, F.S.; revising definitions for standards for |
| 75 | firefighting; amending s. 633.34, F.S.; revising |
| 76 | qualifications for employment of firefighters; amending s. |
| 77 | 633.35, F.S.; requiring the Division of State Fire Marshal |
| 78 | to adopt rules establishing firefighter training programs |
| 79 | for certain firefighting personnel; providing requirements |
| 80 | and authority for certifications of certain firefighting |
| 81 | personnel; authorizing the division to issue a Fire |
| 82 | Service Administrative and Command Head certificate to |
| 83 | certain persons for certain purposes; providing |
| 84 | requirements and limitations; revising examination |
| 85 | requirements; amending s. 633.351, F.S.; revising |
| 86 | requirements, procedures, and standards for revocation of |
| 87 | firefighter certification; requiring the division to adopt |
| 88 | rules; amending s. 633.352, F.S.; revising requirements |
| 89 | for retention of firefighter certification; amending s. |
| 90 | 633.382, F.S.; revising definitions relating to |
| 91 | supplemental compensation for career firefighters; |
| 92 | revising qualifications for supplemental compensation; |
| 93 | amending s. 633.521, F.S.; requiring certain applicants to |
| 94 | undertake a completely new application process under |
| 95 | certain circumstances and satisfy certain requirements; |
| 96 | revising qualification and eligibility prerequisites for |
| 97 | taking examinations for certifications of certain |
| 98 | contractors; deleting an intent provision; amending s. |
| 99 | 633.524, F.S.; authorizing the State Fire Marshal to enter |
| 100 | into contracts with qualified entities to provide certain |
| 101 | examinations; authorizing the State Fire Marshal to direct |
| 102 | payments from examination applicants directly to the |
| 103 | contracted entity or company; amending s. 633.537, F.S.; |
| 104 | deleting an obsolete continuing education curriculum |
| 105 | requirement; amending s. 633.72, F.S.; providing for |
| 106 | members of the Florida Fire Code Advisory Council to serve |
| 107 | for two terms; amending s. 633.811, F.S.; authorizing the |
| 108 | division to issue administrative cease and desist orders |
| 109 | for certain violations under certain circumstances; |
| 110 | requiring certain hearings to be held in Leon County; |
| 111 | prohibiting the initiation of cease and desist orders or |
| 112 | proceedings or the accrual of certain fines until after |
| 113 | provision of notification and opportunity to correct a |
| 114 | violation; amending s. 633.821, F.S.; deleting certain |
| 115 | obsolete workplace safety provisions; amending ss. 218.23 |
| 116 | and 447.203, F.S.; conforming provisions relating to |
| 117 | application to career firefighters; amending ss. 489.103 |
| 118 | and 590.02, F.S.; conforming cross-references; amending s. |
| 119 | 1013.12, F.S.; deleting an annual reporting requirement of |
| 120 | the State Fire Marshal; providing an effective date. |
| 121 |
|
| 122 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 123 |
|
| 124 | Section 1. Paragraph (d) of subsection (5) and subsection |
| 125 | (9) of section 633.021, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 126 | 633.021 Definitions.-As used in this chapter: |
| 127 | (5) |
| 128 | (d) "Contractor IV" means a contractor whose business is |
| 129 | limited to the execution of contracts requiring the ability to |
| 130 | lay out, fabricate, install, inspect, alter, repair, and service |
| 131 | automatic fire sprinkler systems for occupancies protected |
| 132 | within the scope of the National Fire Protection Association |
| 133 | publication NFPA 13D, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler |
| 134 | Systems in One- and Two-Family Dwellings and Manufactured Homes |
| 135 | detached one-family dwellings, detached two-family dwellings, |
| 136 | and mobile homes, excluding preengineered systems and excluding |
| 137 | single-family homes in cluster units, such as apartments, |
| 138 | condominiums, and assisted living facilities or any building |
| 139 | that is connected to other dwellings. |
| 140 |
|
| 141 | The definitions in this subsection must not be construed to |
| 142 | include fire protection engineers or architects and do not limit |
| 143 | or prohibit a licensed fire protection engineer or architect |
| 144 | from designing any type of fire protection system. A distinction |
| 145 | is made between system design concepts prepared by the design |
| 146 | professional and system layout as defined in this section and |
| 147 | typically prepared by the contractor. However, persons certified |
| 148 | as a Contractor I, Contractor II, or Contractor IV under this |
| 149 | chapter may design fire protection systems of 49 or fewer |
| 150 | sprinklers, and may design the alteration of an existing fire |
| 151 | sprinkler system if the alteration consists of the relocation, |
| 152 | addition, or deletion of not more than 49 sprinklers, |
| 153 | notwithstanding the size of the existing fire sprinkler system. |
| 154 | A Contractor I, Contractor II, or Contractor IV may design a |
| 155 | fire protection system the scope of which complies with NFPA |
| 156 | 13D, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in One- |
| 157 | and Two-Family Dwellings and Manufactured Homes, as adopted by |
| 158 | the State Fire Marshal, notwithstanding the number of fire |
| 159 | sprinklers. Contractor-developed plans may not be required by |
| 160 | any local permitting authority to be sealed by a registered |
| 161 | professional engineer. |
| 162 | (9) A "fire protection system" is a system individually |
| 163 | designed to protect the interior or exterior of a specific |
| 164 | building or buildings, structure, or other special hazard from |
| 165 | fire. Such systems include, but are not limited to, water |
| 166 | sprinkler systems, water spray systems, foam-water sprinkler |
| 167 | systems, foam-water spray systems, CO2 systems, foam |
| 168 | extinguishing systems, dry chemical systems, and Halon and other |
| 169 | chemical systems used for fire protection use. Such systems also |
| 170 | include any overhead and underground fire mains, fire hydrants |
| 171 | and hydrant mains, standpipes and hoses connected to sprinkler |
| 172 | systems, sprinkler tank heaters, air lines, thermal systems used |
| 173 | in connection with fire sprinkler systems, and tanks and pumps |
| 174 | connected to fire sprinkler systems. |
| 175 | Section 2. Subsection (1) of section 633.022, Florida |
| 176 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 177 | 633.022 Uniform firesafety standards.-The Legislature |
| 178 | hereby determines that to protect the public health, safety, and |
| 179 | welfare it is necessary to provide for firesafety standards |
| 180 | governing the construction and utilization of certain buildings |
| 181 | and structures. The Legislature further determines that certain |
| 182 | buildings or structures, due to their specialized use or to the |
| 183 | special characteristics of the person utilizing or occupying |
| 184 | these buildings or structures, should be subject to firesafety |
| 185 | standards reflecting these special needs as may be appropriate. |
| 186 | (1) The department shall establish uniform firesafety |
| 187 | standards that apply to: |
| 188 | (a) All new, existing, and proposed state-owned and state- |
| 189 | leased buildings, including state universities. |
| 190 | (b) All new, existing, and proposed hospitals, nursing |
| 191 | homes, assisted living facilities, adult family-care homes, |
| 192 | correctional facilities, public schools, transient public |
| 193 | lodging establishments, public food service establishments, |
| 194 | elevators, migrant labor camps, mobile home parks, lodging |
| 195 | parks, recreational vehicle parks, recreational camps, |
| 196 | residential and nonresidential child care facilities, facilities |
| 197 | for the developmentally disabled, motion picture and television |
| 198 | special effects productions, tunnels, and self-service gasoline |
| 199 | stations, of which standards the State Fire Marshal is the final |
| 200 | administrative interpreting authority. |
| 201 |
|
| 202 | In the event there is a dispute between the owners of the |
| 203 | buildings specified in paragraph (b) and a local authority |
| 204 | requiring a more stringent uniform firesafety standard for |
| 205 | sprinkler systems, the State Fire Marshal shall be the final |
| 206 | administrative interpreting authority and the State Fire |
| 207 | Marshal's interpretation regarding the uniform firesafety |
| 208 | standards shall be considered final agency action. |
| 209 | Section 3. Subsection (11) is added to section 633.025, |
| 210 | Florida Statutes, to read: |
| 211 | 633.025 Minimum firesafety standards.- |
| 212 | (11)(a) The plans for, and inspections of, manufactured |
| 213 | buildings may be completed at the point of manufacture if: |
| 214 | 1. The person reviewing the plans and inspecting the |
| 215 | manufactured or prototype building is a person currently |
| 216 | certified as a firesafety inspector under s. 633.081(2); and |
| 217 | 2. The manufacturer's modular data plate, stating that the |
| 218 | building is in compliance with this chapter and the rules of the |
| 219 | department, has been affixed to the building. |
| 220 | (b) The local fire official shall recognize and approve |
| 221 | such manufactured building, subject to local fire code |
| 222 | amendments, acceptable performance testing of life safety |
| 223 | systems, and site conditions. The cost of any additional work |
| 224 | necessary to meet these requirements shall be borne by the |
| 225 | manufacturer. The department may adopt rules to administer this |
| 226 | subsection. |
| 227 | Section 4. Section 633.026, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 228 | to read: |
| 229 | 633.026 Legislative intent; informal interpretations of |
| 230 | the Florida Fire Prevention Code.- |
| 231 | (1) It is the intent of the Legislature that: |
| 232 | (a) The Florida Fire Prevention Code be interpreted by |
| 233 | fire officials and local enforcement agencies in a manner that |
| 234 | protects the public safety, health, and welfare by ensuring |
| 235 | uniform interpretations throughout this state and by providing |
| 236 | processes for resolving disputes regarding such interpretations |
| 237 | which are just and expeditious. |
| 238 | (b) Such processes provide for the expeditious resolution |
| 239 | of the issues presented and that the resulting interpretation of |
| 240 | such issues be published on the website of the Division of State |
| 241 | Fire Marshal. |
| 242 | (2) The Division of State Fire Marshal shall by rule |
| 243 | establish an informal process of rendering nonbinding |
| 244 | interpretations of the Florida Fire Prevention Code. The |
| 245 | Division of State Fire Marshal may contract with and refer |
| 246 | interpretive issues to a nonprofit organization that has |
| 247 | experience in interpreting and enforcing the Florida Fire |
| 248 | Prevention Code. The Division of State Fire Marshal shall |
| 249 | immediately implement the process prior to the completion of |
| 250 | formal rulemaking. |
| 251 | (3)(a) It is the intent of the Legislature that The |
| 252 | Division of State Fire Marshal shall establish create a Fire |
| 253 | Code Interpretation Committee composed of seven persons and |
| 254 | seven alternates, equally representing each area of the state |
| 255 | process to refer questions to a small group of individuals |
| 256 | certified under s. 633.081(2), to which a party can pose |
| 257 | questions regarding the interpretation of Florida Fire |
| 258 | Prevention Code provisions. |
| 259 | (b) Each member and alternate member of the Fire Code |
| 260 | Interpretation Committee must be certified as a firesafety |
| 261 | inspector pursuant to s. 633.081 and must have a minimum of 5 |
| 262 | years of experience interpreting and enforcing the Florida Fire |
| 263 | Prevention Code and the Life Safety Code. Each member and |
| 264 | alternate member must be approved by the Division of State Fire |
| 265 | Marshal and deemed by the division to have met these |
| 266 | requirements for at least 30 days before participating in a |
| 267 | review of a nonbinding interpretation. |
| 268 | (4) Each nonbinding interpretation of code provisions must |
| 269 | be provided within 10 business days after receipt of a request |
| 270 | for an interpretation. The response period established in this |
| 271 | subsection may be waived only with the written consent of the |
| 272 | party requesting the nonbinding interpretation and the Division |
| 273 | of State Fire Marshal. Nonbinding It is the intent of the |
| 274 | Legislature that the process provide for the expeditious |
| 275 | resolution of the issues presented and publication of the |
| 276 | resulting interpretation on the website of the Division of State |
| 277 | Fire Marshal. It is the intent of the Legislature that this |
| 278 | program be similar to the program established by the Florida |
| 279 | Building Commission in s. 553.775(3)(g). Such interpretations |
| 280 | shall be advisory only and not binding nonbinding on the parties |
| 281 | or the State Fire Marshal. |
| 282 | (5) In order to administer this section, the Division of |
| 283 | State Fire Marshal shall charge department may adopt by rule and |
| 284 | impose a fee for each nonbinding interpretation interpretations, |
| 285 | with payment made directly to the third party. The fee may not |
| 286 | exceed $150 for each request for a review or interpretation. The |
| 287 | division may authorize payment of fees directly to the nonprofit |
| 288 | organization under contract pursuant to subsection (2). |
| 289 | (6) A party requesting a nonbinding interpretation who |
| 290 | disagrees with the interpretation issued under this section may |
| 291 | apply for a formal interpretation from the State Fire Marshal |
| 292 | pursuant to s. 633.01(6). |
| 293 | (7) The Division of State Fire Marshal shall issue or |
| 294 | cause to be issued a nonbinding interpretation of the Florida |
| 295 | Fire Prevention Code pursuant to this section when requested to |
| 296 | do so upon submission of a petition by the owner or owner's |
| 297 | representative, or the contractor or contractor's |
| 298 | representative, of a project in dispute or by a fire official. |
| 299 | The division shall adopt a petition form by rule and the |
| 300 | petition form must be published on the State Fire Marshal's |
| 301 | website. The form shall, at a minimum, require: |
| 302 | (a) The name and address of the local fire official, |
| 303 | including the address of the county, municipality, or special |
| 304 | district. |
| 305 | (b) The name and address of the owner or owner's |
| 306 | representative or the contractor or contractor's representative. |
| 307 | (c) A statement of the specific sections of the Florida |
| 308 | Fire Prevention Code being interpreted by the local fire |
| 309 | official. |
| 310 | (d) An explanation of how the petitioner's substantial |
| 311 | interests are being affected by the local interpretation of the |
| 312 | Florida Fire Prevention Code. |
| 313 | (e) A statement of the interpretation of the specific |
| 314 | sections of the Florida Fire Prevention Code by the local fire |
| 315 | official. |
| 316 | (f) A statement of the interpretation that the petitioner |
| 317 | contends should be given to the specific sections of the Florida |
| 318 | Fire Prevention Code and a statement supporting the petitioner's |
| 319 | interpretation. |
| 320 | (8) Upon receipt of a petition that meets the requirements |
| 321 | of subsection (7), the Division of State Fire Marshal shall |
| 322 | immediately provide copies of the petition to the Fire Code |
| 323 | Interpretation Committee, and shall publish the petition and any |
| 324 | response submitted by the local fire official on the State Fire |
| 325 | Marshal's website. |
| 326 | (9) The committee shall conduct proceedings as necessary |
| 327 | to resolve the issues and give due regard to the petition, the |
| 328 | facts of the matter at issue, specific code sections cited, and |
| 329 | any implications of provisions of state law affecting the |
| 330 | Florida Fire Prevention Code. The committee shall issue an |
| 331 | interpretation regarding the provisions of the Florida Fire |
| 332 | Prevention Code within 10 days after the filing of a petition. |
| 333 | The committee shall issue an interpretation based upon the |
| 334 | Florida Fire Prevention Code or, if the code is ambiguous, the |
| 335 | intent of the code. The committee's interpretation shall be |
| 336 | provided to the petitioner and shall include a notice that, if |
| 337 | the petitioner disagrees with the interpretation, the petitioner |
| 338 | may file a request for formal interpretation by the State Fire |
| 339 | Marshal under s. 633.01(6). The committee's interpretation shall |
| 340 | be provided to the State Fire Marshal, and the division shall |
| 341 | publish the interpretation on the State Fire Marshal's website |
| 342 | and in the Florida Administrative Weekly. |
| 343 | Section 5. Section 633.027, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 344 | to read: |
| 345 | 633.027 Buildings with light-frame truss-type |
| 346 | construction; notice requirements; enforcement.- |
| 347 | (1) The owner of any commercial or industrial structure, |
| 348 | or any multiunit residential structure of three units or more, |
| 349 | that uses light-frame truss-type construction shall mark the |
| 350 | structure with a sign or symbol approved by the State Fire |
| 351 | Marshal in a manner sufficient to warn persons conducting fire |
| 352 | control and other emergency operations of the existence of |
| 353 | light-frame truss-type construction in the structure. |
| 354 | (2) The State Fire Marshal shall adopt rules necessary to |
| 355 | implement the provisions of this section, including, but not |
| 356 | limited to: |
| 357 | (a) The dimensions and color of such sign or symbol. |
| 358 | (b) The time within which commercial, industrial, and |
| 359 | multiunit residential structures that use light-frame truss-type |
| 360 | construction shall be marked as required by this section. |
| 361 | (c) The location on each commercial, industrial, and |
| 362 | multiunit residential structure that uses light-frame truss-type |
| 363 | construction where such sign or symbol must be posted. |
| 364 | (3) The State Fire Marshal, and local fire officials in |
| 365 | accordance with s. 633.121, shall enforce the provisions of this |
| 366 | section. Any owner who fails to comply with the requirements of |
| 367 | this section is subject to penalties as provided in s. 633.161. |
| 368 | (4) This section does not apply to townhouses designed and |
| 369 | constructed in accordance with the Florida Building Code. |
| 370 | Section 6. Subsections (1), (2), and (3) of section |
| 371 | 633.061, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 372 | 633.061 Fire suppression equipment; license to install or |
| 373 | maintain.- |
| 374 | (1)(a) It is unlawful for any organization or individual |
| 375 | to engage in the business of servicing, repairing, recharging, |
| 376 | testing, marking, inspecting, installing, or hydrotesting any |
| 377 | fire extinguisher or preengineered system in this state except |
| 378 | in conformity with the provisions of this chapter. Each |
| 379 | organization or individual that engages in such activity must |
| 380 | possess a valid and subsisting license issued by the State Fire |
| 381 | Marshal. All fire extinguishers and preengineered systems |
| 382 | required by statute or by rule must be serviced by an |
| 383 | organization or individual licensed under the provisions of this |
| 384 | chapter. A licensee who receives appropriate training shall not |
| 385 | be prohibited by a manufacturer from servicing any particular |
| 386 | brand of fire extinguisher or preengineered system. The licensee |
| 387 | is legally qualified to act for the business organization in all |
| 388 | matters connected with its business, and the licensee must |
| 389 | supervise all activities undertaken by such business |
| 390 | organization. Each licensee shall maintain a specific business |
| 391 | location. A further requirement, in the case of multiple |
| 392 | locations where such servicing or recharging is taking place, is |
| 393 | that each licensee who maintains more than one place of business |
| 394 | where actual work is carried on must possess an additional |
| 395 | license, as set forth in this section, for each location, except |
| 396 | that a licensed individual may not qualify for more than five |
| 397 | locations. A licensee is limited to a specific type of work |
| 398 | performed depending upon the class of license held. Licenses and |
| 399 | license fees are required for the following: |
| 400 | 1.(a) Class A....$250 |
| 401 | To service, recharge, repair, install, or inspect all types of |
| 402 | fire extinguishers and to conduct hydrostatic tests on all types |
| 403 | of fire extinguishers. |
| 404 | 2.(b) Class B....$150 |
| 405 | To service, recharge, repair, install, or inspect all types of |
| 406 | fire extinguishers, including recharging carbon dioxide units |
| 407 | and conducting hydrostatic tests on all types of fire |
| 408 | extinguishers, except carbon dioxide units. |
| 409 | 3.(c) Class C....$150 |
| 410 | To service, recharge, repair, install, or inspect all types of |
| 411 | fire extinguishers, except recharging carbon dioxide units, and |
| 412 | to conduct hydrostatic tests on all types of fire extinguishers, |
| 413 | except carbon dioxide units. |
| 414 | 4.(d) Class D....$200 |
| 415 | To service, repair, recharge, hydrotest, install, or inspect all |
| 416 | types of preengineered fire extinguishing systems. |
| 417 | 5.(e) Licenses issued as duplicates or to reflect a change |
| 418 | of address....$10 |
| 419 | (b)1. Any fire equipment dealer licensed pursuant to this |
| 420 | subsection who does not want to engage in the business of |
| 421 | servicing, inspecting, recharging, repairing, hydrotesting, or |
| 422 | installing halon equipment must file an affidavit on a form |
| 423 | provided by the division so stating. Licenses will be issued by |
| 424 | the division to reflect the work authorized thereunder. It is |
| 425 | unlawful, unlicensed activity for any person or firm to falsely |
| 426 | hold himself or herself or a business organization out to |
| 427 | perform any service, inspection, recharge, repair, hydrotest, or |
| 428 | installation except as specifically described in the license. |
| 429 | 2. Any fire equipment dealer licensed pursuant to this |
| 430 | subsection who wishes to withdraw a previously filed halon |
| 431 | equipment exemption affidavit and engage in the business of |
| 432 | servicing, inspecting, recharging, repairing, hydrotesting, or |
| 433 | installing halon equipment must submit a written statement to |
| 434 | the division requesting the withdrawal of the affidavit. The |
| 435 | dealer must also submit to an inspection by the State Fire |
| 436 | Marshal or his or her designee in order to determine that the |
| 437 | dealer possesses the equipment required to service, recharge, |
| 438 | repair, hydrotest, or install halon equipment and submit a fee |
| 439 | of $50 for each license and $10 for each permit associated with |
| 440 | the dealer. |
| 441 | (2)(a) Each individual actually performing the work of |
| 442 | servicing, recharging, repairing, hydrotesting, installing, |
| 443 | testing, or inspecting fire extinguishers or preengineered |
| 444 | systems must possess a valid and subsisting permit issued by the |
| 445 | State Fire Marshal. Permittees are limited as to specific type |
| 446 | of work performed to allow work no more extensive than the class |
| 447 | of license held by the licensee under whom the permittee is |
| 448 | working. Permits will be issued by the division and the fees |
| 449 | required are as follows: |
| 450 | 1.(a) Portable permit....$90 |
| 451 | "Portable permittee" means a person who is limited to performing |
| 452 | work no more extensive than the employing licensee in the |
| 453 | servicing, recharging, repairing, installing, or inspecting all |
| 454 | types of portable fire extinguishers. |
| 455 | 2.(b) Preengineered permit....$120 |
| 456 | "Preengineered permittee" means a person who is limited to the |
| 457 | servicing, recharging, repairing, installing, or inspecting of |
| 458 | all types of preengineered fire extinguishing systems. |
| 459 | 3.(c) Permits issued as duplicates or to reflect a change |
| 460 | of address....$10 |
| 461 | (b) Any fire equipment permittee licensed pursuant to this |
| 462 | subsection who does not want to engage in servicing, inspecting, |
| 463 | recharging, repairing, hydrotesting, or installing halon |
| 464 | equipment must file an affidavit on a form provided by the |
| 465 | division so stating. Permits will be issued by the division to |
| 466 | reflect the work authorized thereunder. It is unlawful, |
| 467 | unlicensed activity for any person or firm to falsely hold |
| 468 | himself or herself out to perform any service, inspection, |
| 469 | recharge, repair, hydrotest, or installation except as |
| 470 | specifically described in the permit. |
| 471 | (3)(a) Such licenses and permits shall be issued by the |
| 472 | State Fire Marshal for 2 years beginning January 1, 2000, and |
| 473 | each 2-year period thereafter and expiring December 31 of the |
| 474 | second year. All licenses or permits issued will expire on |
| 475 | December 31 of each odd-numbered year. The failure to renew a |
| 476 | license or permit by December 31 of the second year will cause |
| 477 | the license or permit to become inoperative. The holder of an |
| 478 | inoperative license or permit shall not engage in any activities |
| 479 | for which a license or permit is required by this section. A |
| 480 | license or permit which is inoperative because of the failure to |
| 481 | renew it shall be restored upon payment of the applicable fee |
| 482 | plus a penalty equal to the applicable fee, if the application |
| 483 | for renewal is filed no later than the following March 31. If |
| 484 | the application for restoration is not made before the March |
| 485 | 31st deadline, the fee for restoration shall be equal to the |
| 486 | original application fee and the penalty provided for herein, |
| 487 | and, in addition, the State Fire Marshal shall require |
| 488 | reexamination of the applicant. The fee for a license or permit |
| 489 | issued for 1 year or less shall be prorated at 50 percent of the |
| 490 | applicable fee for a biennial license or permit. Following the |
| 491 | initial licensure, each licensee or permittee shall successfully |
| 492 | complete a course or courses of continuing education for fire |
| 493 | equipment technicians of at least 16 32 hours. A license or |
| 494 | permit may not be renewed unless the licensee or permittee |
| 495 | produces documentation of the completion of at least 16 hours of |
| 496 | continuing education for fire equipment technicians during the |
| 497 | biennial licensure period within 4 years of initial issuance of |
| 498 | a license or permit and within each 4-year period thereafter or |
| 499 | no such license or permit shall be renewed. A person who is both |
| 500 | a licensee and a permittee shall be required to complete 16 32 |
| 501 | hours of continuing education during each renewal per 4-year |
| 502 | period. Each licensee shall ensure that all permittees in his or |
| 503 | her employment meet their continuing education requirements. The |
| 504 | State Fire Marshal shall adopt rules describing the continuing |
| 505 | education requirements and shall have the authority upon |
| 506 | reasonable belief, to audit a fire equipment dealer to determine |
| 507 | compliance with continuing education requirements. |
| 508 | (b) The forms of such licenses and permits and |
| 509 | applications therefor shall be prescribed by the State Fire |
| 510 | Marshal; in addition to such other information and data as that |
| 511 | officer determines is appropriate and required for such forms, |
| 512 | there shall be included in such forms the following matters. |
| 513 | Each such application shall be in such form as to provide that |
| 514 | the data and other information set forth therein shall be sworn |
| 515 | to by the applicant or, if a corporation, by an officer thereof. |
| 516 | An application for a permit shall include the name of the |
| 517 | licensee employing such permittee, and the permit issued in |
| 518 | pursuance of such application shall also set forth the name of |
| 519 | such licensee. A permit is valid solely for use by the holder |
| 520 | thereof in his or her employment by the licensee named in the |
| 521 | permit. |
| 522 | (c) A license of any class shall not be issued or renewed |
| 523 | by the State Fire Marshal and a license of any class shall not |
| 524 | remain operative unless: |
| 525 | 1. The applicant has submitted to the State Fire Marshal |
| 526 | evidence of registration as a Florida corporation or evidence of |
| 527 | compliance with s. 865.09. |
| 528 | 2. The State Fire Marshal or his or her designee has by |
| 529 | inspection determined that the applicant possesses the equipment |
| 530 | required for the class of license sought. The State Fire Marshal |
| 531 | shall give an applicant a reasonable opportunity to correct any |
| 532 | deficiencies discovered by inspection. A fee of $50, payable to |
| 533 | the State Fire Marshal, shall be required for any subsequent |
| 534 | reinspection. To obtain such inspection, an applicant with |
| 535 | facilities located outside this state must: |
| 536 | a. Provide a notarized statement from an engineer licensed |
| 537 | by the applicant's state of domicile certifying that the |
| 538 | applicant possesses the equipment required for the class of |
| 539 | license sought and that all such equipment is operable; or |
| 540 | b. Allow the State Fire Marshal or his or her designee to |
| 541 | inspect the facility. All costs associated with the State Fire |
| 542 | Marshal's conduction of the inspection shall be paid by the |
| 543 | applicant. The State Fire Marshal shall, in accordance with s. |
| 544 | 120.54, adopt by rule standards for the calculation and |
| 545 | establishment of the amount of costs associated with any |
| 546 | inspection conducted by the State Fire Marshal under this |
| 547 | section. Such rules shall include procedures for invoicing and |
| 548 | receiving funds in advance of the inspection. |
| 549 | 3. The applicant has submitted to the State Fire Marshal |
| 550 | proof of insurance providing coverage for comprehensive general |
| 551 | liability for bodily injury and property damage, products |
| 552 | liability, completed operations, and contractual liability. The |
| 553 | State Fire Marshal shall adopt rules providing for the amounts |
| 554 | of such coverage, but such amounts shall not be less than |
| 555 | $300,000 for Class A or Class D licenses, $200,000 for Class B |
| 556 | licenses, and $100,000 for Class C licenses; and the total |
| 557 | coverage for any class of license held in conjunction with a |
| 558 | Class D license shall not be less than $300,000. The State Fire |
| 559 | Marshal may, at any time after the issuance of a license or its |
| 560 | renewal, require upon demand, and in no event more than 30 days |
| 561 | after notice of such demand, the licensee to provide proof of |
| 562 | insurance, on a form provided by the State Fire Marshal, |
| 563 | containing confirmation of insurance coverage as required by |
| 564 | this chapter. Failure, for any length of time, to provide proof |
| 565 | of insurance coverage as required shall result in the immediate |
| 566 | suspension of the license until proof of proper insurance is |
| 567 | provided to the State Fire Marshal. An insurer which provides |
| 568 | such coverage shall notify the State Fire Marshal of any change |
| 569 | in coverage or of any termination, cancellation, or nonrenewal |
| 570 | of any coverage. |
| 571 | 4. The applicant applies to the State Fire Marshal and |
| 572 | successfully completes a prescribed training course offered by |
| 573 | the State Fire College or an equivalent course approved by the |
| 574 | State Fire Marshal. This subparagraph does not apply to any |
| 575 | holder of or applicant for a permit under paragraph (f) or to a |
| 576 | business organization or a governmental entity seeking initial |
| 577 | licensure or renewal of an existing license solely for the |
| 578 | purpose of inspecting, servicing, repairing, marking, |
| 579 | recharging, and maintaining fire extinguishers used and located |
| 580 | on the premises of and owned by such organization or entity. |
| 581 | 5. The applicant has a current retestor identification |
| 582 | number that is appropriate for the license for which the |
| 583 | applicant is applying and that is listed with the United States |
| 584 | Department of Transportation. |
| 585 | 6. The applicant has passed, with a grade of at least 70 |
| 586 | percent, a written examination testing his or her knowledge of |
| 587 | the rules and statutes regulating the activities authorized by |
| 588 | the license and demonstrating his or her knowledge and ability |
| 589 | to perform those tasks in a competent, lawful, and safe manner. |
| 590 | Such examination shall be developed and administered by the |
| 591 | State Fire Marshal, or his or her designee in accordance with |
| 592 | policies and procedures of the State Fire Marshal. An applicant |
| 593 | shall pay a nonrefundable examination fee of $50 for each |
| 594 | examination or reexamination scheduled. No reexamination shall |
| 595 | be scheduled sooner than 30 days after any administration of an |
| 596 | examination to an applicant. No applicant shall be permitted to |
| 597 | take an examination for any level of license more than a total |
| 598 | of four times during 1 year, regardless of the number of |
| 599 | applications submitted. As a prerequisite to licensure of the |
| 600 | applicant: |
| 601 | a. Must be at least 18 years of age. |
| 602 | b. Must have 4 years of proven experience as a fire |
| 603 | equipment permittee at a level equal to or greater than the |
| 604 | level of license applied for or have a combination of education |
| 605 | and experience determined to be equivalent thereto by the State |
| 606 | Fire Marshal. Having held a permit at the appropriate level for |
| 607 | the required period constitutes the required experience. |
| 608 | c. Must not have been convicted of, or pled nolo |
| 609 | contendere to, any felony. If an applicant has been convicted of |
| 610 | any such felony, the applicant must comply with s. |
| 611 | 112.011(1)(b). |
| 612 |
|
| 613 | This subparagraph does not apply to any holder of or applicant |
| 614 | for a permit under paragraph (f) or to a business organization |
| 615 | or a governmental entity seeking initial licensure or renewal of |
| 616 | an existing license solely for the purpose of inspecting, |
| 617 | servicing, repairing, marking, recharging, hydrotesting, and |
| 618 | maintaining fire extinguishers used and located on the premises |
| 619 | of and owned by such organization or entity. |
| 620 | (d) An applicant who fails the examination may take it |
| 621 | three more times during the 1-year period after he or she |
| 622 | originally filed an application for the examination. If the |
| 623 | applicant fails the examination within 1 year after the |
| 624 | application date and seeks to retake the examination, he or she |
| 625 | must file a new application, pay the application and examination |
| 626 | fees, and successfully complete a prescribed training course |
| 627 | approved by the State Fire College or an equivalent course |
| 628 | approved by the State Fire Marshal. An applicant may not submit |
| 629 | a new application within 6 months after the date of his or her |
| 630 | last reexamination. |
| 631 | (d)(e) A fire equipment dealer licensed under this section |
| 632 | may apply to upgrade the license currently held, if the licensed |
| 633 | dealer: |
| 634 | 1. Submits an application for the license on a form in |
| 635 | conformance with paragraph (b). The application must be |
| 636 | accompanied by a fee as prescribed in subsection (1) for the |
| 637 | type of license requested. |
| 638 | 2. Provides evidence of 2 years' experience as a licensed |
| 639 | dealer and meets such relevant educational requirements as are |
| 640 | established by rule by the State Fire Marshal for purposes of |
| 641 | upgrading a license. |
| 642 | 3. Meets the requirements of paragraph (c). |
| 643 | (e) A fire equipment dealer licensed under this section |
| 644 | may apply to downgrade the license currently held by the dealer, |
| 645 | if the dealer: |
| 646 | 1. Submits an application for the downgraded license on a |
| 647 | form in conformance with paragraph (b). The application must be |
| 648 | accompanied by a fee as prescribed in subsection (1) for the |
| 649 | type of license requested. |
| 650 | 2. Submits proof of insurance providing coverage meeting |
| 651 | the requirements prescribed in subparagraph (c)3. |
| 652 | 3. Submits a fee of $10 for every permit associated with |
| 653 | the license to be downgraded. |
| 654 | (f) A No permit of any class may not shall be issued or |
| 655 | renewed to a person by the State Fire Marshal, and a no permit |
| 656 | of any class may not shall remain operative, unless the person |
| 657 | has: |
| 658 | 1. Submitted a nonrefundable examination fee in the amount |
| 659 | of $50.; |
| 660 | 2. Successfully completed a training course offered by the |
| 661 | State Fire College or an equivalent course approved by the State |
| 662 | Fire Marshal.; and |
| 663 | 3. Passed, with a grade of at least 70 percent, a written |
| 664 | examination testing his or her knowledge of the rules and |
| 665 | statutes regulating the activities authorized by the permit and |
| 666 | demonstrating his or her knowledge and ability to perform those |
| 667 | tasks in a competent, lawful, and safe manner. Such examination |
| 668 | shall be developed and administered by the State Fire Marshal in |
| 669 | accordance with the policies and procedures of the State Fire |
| 670 | Marshal. An examination fee shall be paid for each examination |
| 671 | scheduled. No reexamination shall be scheduled sooner than 30 |
| 672 | days after any administration of an examination to an applicant. |
| 673 | No applicant shall be permitted to take an examination for any |
| 674 | level of permit more than four times during 1 year, regardless |
| 675 | of the number of applications submitted. As a prerequisite to |
| 676 | taking the permit examination, the applicant must be at least 16 |
| 677 | years of age. |
| 678 | (g) An applicant for a license or permit under this |
| 679 | section who fails the examination may take the examination it |
| 680 | three more times during the 1-year period after he or she |
| 681 | originally filed an application for the examination. If the |
| 682 | applicant fails the examination within 1 year after the |
| 683 | application date and he or she seeks to retake the examination, |
| 684 | he or she must file a new application, pay the application and |
| 685 | examination fees, and successfully complete a prescribed |
| 686 | training course offered by the State Fire College or an |
| 687 | equivalent course approved by the State Fire Marshal. The |
| 688 | applicant may not submit a new application within 6 months after |
| 689 | the date of his or her last reexamination. An applicant who |
| 690 | passes the examination but does not meet the remaining |
| 691 | qualifications prescribed by law and rule within 1 year after |
| 692 | the application date must file a new application, pay the |
| 693 | application and examination fee, successfully complete a |
| 694 | prescribed training course approved by the State Fire College or |
| 695 | an equivalent course approved by the State Fire Marshal, and |
| 696 | pass the written examination. |
| 697 | Section 7. Subsection (3) of section 633.071, Florida |
| 698 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 699 | 633.071 Standard service tag required on all fire |
| 700 | extinguishers and preengineered systems; serial number required |
| 701 | on all portable fire extinguishers; standard inspection tags |
| 702 | required on all fire protection systems.- |
| 703 | (3) The State Fire Marshal shall adopt by rule |
| 704 | specifications as to the method of attachment and placement, |
| 705 | size, shape, color, information, and data contained thereon of |
| 706 | inspection tags to be attached to all types of fire protection |
| 707 | systems and information required on an inspection report of such |
| 708 | an inspection. |
| 709 | Section 8. Section 633.081, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 710 | to read: |
| 711 | 633.081 Inspection of buildings and equipment; orders; |
| 712 | firesafety inspection training requirements; certification; |
| 713 | disciplinary action.-The State Fire Marshal and her or his |
| 714 | agents may shall, at any reasonable hour, when the State Fire |
| 715 | Marshal department has reasonable cause to believe that a |
| 716 | violation of this chapter or s. 509.215, or a rule promulgated |
| 717 | thereunder, or a minimum firesafety code adopted by the State |
| 718 | Fire Marshal or a local authority, may exist, inspect any and |
| 719 | all buildings and structures which are subject to the |
| 720 | requirements of this chapter or s. 509.215 and rules promulgated |
| 721 | thereunder. The authority to inspect shall extend to all |
| 722 | equipment, vehicles, and chemicals which are located on or |
| 723 | within the premises of any such building or structure. |
| 724 | (1) Each county, municipality, and special district that |
| 725 | has firesafety enforcement responsibilities shall employ or |
| 726 | contract with a firesafety inspector. The firesafety inspector |
| 727 | must conduct all firesafety inspections that are required by |
| 728 | law, except as provided in subsection (4) and s. 633.082(2). The |
| 729 | governing body of a county, municipality, or special district |
| 730 | that has firesafety enforcement responsibilities may provide a |
| 731 | schedule of fees to pay only the costs of inspections conducted |
| 732 | pursuant to this subsection and related administrative expenses. |
| 733 | Two or more counties, municipalities, or special districts that |
| 734 | have firesafety enforcement responsibilities may jointly employ |
| 735 | or contract with a firesafety inspector. |
| 736 | (2) Except as provided in subsection (4) and s. |
| 737 | 633.082(2), every firesafety inspection conducted pursuant to |
| 738 | state or local firesafety requirements shall be by a person |
| 739 | certified as having met the inspection training requirements set |
| 740 | by the State Fire Marshal. Such person shall: |
| 741 | (a) Be a high school graduate or the equivalent as the |
| 742 | term may be determined by the division. department; |
| 743 | (b) Not have been found guilty of, or having pled pleaded |
| 744 | guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony or a crime punishable by |
| 745 | imprisonment of 1 year or more under the laws law of the United |
| 746 | States, or of any state thereof, or under the laws of any other |
| 747 | country. An applicant for certification as a firesafety |
| 748 | inspector with a prior felony conviction shall be excluded from |
| 749 | such certification for a period of 4 years after expiration of |
| 750 | the sentence or final release by the Parole Commission unless |
| 751 | the applicant, prior to the expiration of the 4-year period, has |
| 752 | received a full pardon or has had his or her civil rights |
| 753 | restored. However, a person may be denied certification by the |
| 754 | state, any of its agencies or political subdivisions, or any |
| 755 | municipality by reason of the prior conviction for a crime if |
| 756 | the crime was a felony or first degree misdemeanor and was |
| 757 | directly related to the duties authorized under the |
| 758 | certification. which involves moral turpitude, without regard to |
| 759 | whether a judgment of conviction has been entered by the court |
| 760 | having jurisdiction of such cases; |
| 761 | (c) Have her or his fingerprints on file with the |
| 762 | department or with an agency designated by the department.; |
| 763 | (d) Have good moral character as determined by the |
| 764 | department.; |
| 765 | (e) Be at least 18 years of age.; |
| 766 | (f) Have satisfactorily completed the firesafety inspector |
| 767 | certification examination as prescribed by the department.; and |
| 768 | (g)1. Have satisfactorily completed, as determined by the |
| 769 | department, a firesafety inspector training program of not less |
| 770 | than 200 hours established by the department and administered by |
| 771 | agencies and institutions approved by the department for the |
| 772 | purpose of providing basic certification training for firesafety |
| 773 | inspectors; or |
| 774 | 2. Have received in another state training which is |
| 775 | determined by the department to be at least equivalent to that |
| 776 | required by the department for approved firesafety inspector |
| 777 | education and training programs in this state. |
| 778 | (3)(a)1. Effective July 1, 2012, the classification of |
| 779 | special state firesafety inspector is abolished and all special |
| 780 | state firesafety inspector certifications shall expire at |
| 781 | midnight June 30, 2012. |
| 782 | 2. Any person who is a special state firesafety inspector |
| 783 | on June 30, 2012, and who has failed to comply with paragraph |
| 784 | (b) or paragraph (c) may not perform any firesafety inspection |
| 785 | required by law. |
| 786 | 3. A special state firesafety inspector certificate may |
| 787 | not be issued after June 30, 2010. |
| 788 | (b)1. Any person who is a special state firesafety |
| 789 | inspector on July 1, 2010, and who has at least 5 years of |
| 790 | experience as a special state firesafety inspector as of July 1, |
| 791 | 2010, may take the firesafety inspection examination as provided |
| 792 | in paragraph (2)(f) for firesafety inspectors before July 1, |
| 793 | 2012, to be certified as a firesafety inspector under this |
| 794 | section. |
| 795 | 2. Upon passing the examination, the person shall be |
| 796 | certified as a firesafety inspector as provided in this section. |
| 797 | 3. A person who fails to become certified must comply with |
| 798 | paragraph (c) to be certified as a firesafety inspector under |
| 799 | this section. |
| 800 | (c)1. To be certified as a firesafety inspector under this |
| 801 | section, any person who: |
| 802 | a. Is a special state firesafety inspector on July 1, |
| 803 | 2010, and who does not have 5 years of experience as a special |
| 804 | state firesafety inspector as of July 1, 2010; or |
| 805 | b. Has 5 years of experience as a special state firesafety |
| 806 | inspector but has failed the examination taken as provided in |
| 807 | paragraph (2)(f), |
| 808 | |
| 809 | must take an additional 80 hours of the courses described in |
| 810 | paragraph (2)(g). |
| 811 | 2. After successfully completing the courses described in |
| 812 | this paragraph, such person may take the firesafety inspection |
| 813 | examination as provided in (2)(f), if such examination is taken |
| 814 | before July 1, 2012. |
| 815 | 3. Upon passing the examination, the person shall be |
| 816 | certified as a firesafety inspector as provided in this section. |
| 817 | 4. A person who fails the course of study or the |
| 818 | examination described in this paragraph may not perform any |
| 819 | firesafety inspection required by law on or after July 1, 2012. |
| 820 | Each special state firesafety inspection which is required by |
| 821 | law and is conducted by or on behalf of an agency of the state |
| 822 | must be performed by an individual who has met the provision of |
| 823 | subsection (2), except that the duration of the training program |
| 824 | shall not exceed 120 hours of specific training for the type of |
| 825 | property that such special state firesafety inspectors are |
| 826 | assigned to inspect. |
| 827 | (4) A firefighter certified pursuant to s. 633.35 may |
| 828 | conduct firesafety inspections, under the supervision of a |
| 829 | certified firesafety inspector, while on duty as a member of a |
| 830 | fire department company conducting inservice firesafety |
| 831 | inspections without being certified as a firesafety inspector, |
| 832 | if such firefighter has satisfactorily completed an inservice |
| 833 | fire department company inspector training program of at least |
| 834 | 24 hours' duration as provided by rule of the department. |
| 835 | (5) Every firesafety inspector or special state firesafety |
| 836 | inspector certificate is valid for a period of 3 years after |
| 837 | from the date of issuance. Renewal of certification shall be |
| 838 | subject to the affected person's completing proper application |
| 839 | for renewal and meeting all of the requirements for renewal as |
| 840 | established under this chapter or by rule adopted under this |
| 841 | chapter promulgated thereunder, which shall include completion |
| 842 | of at least 40 hours during the preceding 3-year period of |
| 843 | continuing education as required by the rule of the department |
| 844 | or, in lieu thereof, successful passage of an examination as |
| 845 | established by the department. |
| 846 | (6) The State Fire Marshal may deny, refuse to renew, |
| 847 | suspend, or revoke the certificate of a firesafety inspector or |
| 848 | special state firesafety inspector if the State Fire Marshal it |
| 849 | finds that any of the following grounds exist: |
| 850 | (a) Any cause for which issuance of a certificate could |
| 851 | have been refused had it then existed and been known to the |
| 852 | State Fire Marshal. |
| 853 | (b) Violation of this chapter or any rule or order of the |
| 854 | State Fire Marshal. |
| 855 | (c) Falsification of records relating to the certificate. |
| 856 | (d) Having been found guilty of or having pleaded guilty |
| 857 | or nolo contendere to a felony, whether or not a judgment of |
| 858 | conviction has been entered. |
| 859 | (e) Failure to meet any of the renewal requirements. |
| 860 | (f) Having been convicted of a crime in any jurisdiction |
| 861 | which directly relates to the practice of fire code inspection, |
| 862 | plan review, or administration. |
| 863 | (g) Making or filing a report or record that the |
| 864 | certificateholder knows to be false, or knowingly inducing |
| 865 | another to file a false report or record, or knowingly failing |
| 866 | to file a report or record required by state or local law, or |
| 867 | knowingly impeding or obstructing such filing, or knowingly |
| 868 | inducing another person to impede or obstruct such filing. |
| 869 | (h) Failing to properly enforce applicable fire codes or |
| 870 | permit requirements within this state which the |
| 871 | certificateholder knows are applicable by committing willful |
| 872 | misconduct, gross negligence, gross misconduct, repeated |
| 873 | negligence, or negligence resulting in a significant danger to |
| 874 | life or property. |
| 875 | (i) Accepting labor, services, or materials at no charge |
| 876 | or at a noncompetitive rate from any person who performs work |
| 877 | that is under the enforcement authority of the certificateholder |
| 878 | and who is not an immediate family member of the |
| 879 | certificateholder. For the purpose of this paragraph, the term |
| 880 | "immediate family member" means a spouse, child, parent, |
| 881 | sibling, grandparent, aunt, uncle, or first cousin of the person |
| 882 | or the person's spouse or any person who resides in the primary |
| 883 | residence of the certificateholder. |
| 884 | (7) The department shall provide by rule for the |
| 885 | certification of firesafety inspectors. |
| 886 | (8) The State Fire Marshal may develop by rule an advanced |
| 887 | training and certification program for firesafety inspectors |
| 888 | with fire code management responsibilities. This program must be |
| 889 | consistent with the appropriate provisions of the National Fire |
| 890 | Protection Association publication NFPA 1037, Standard for |
| 891 | Professional Qualifications for Fire Marshal, or similar |
| 892 | standards adopted by the division. The program must establish |
| 893 | minimum training, education, and experience levels for fire |
| 894 | safety inspectors with fire code management responsibilities. |
| 895 | (9) The Division of State Fire Marshal and the Florida |
| 896 | Building Code Administrators and Inspectors Board established |
| 897 | pursuant to s. 468.605 shall enter into a reciprocity agreement |
| 898 | to facilitate joint recognition of continuing education |
| 899 | recertification hours for certificateholders licensed in |
| 900 | accordance with s. 468.609 and firesafety inspectors certified |
| 901 | under this section. |
| 902 | Section 9. Subsection (2) of section 633.082, Florida |
| 903 | Statutes, is amended, and subsection (6) is added to that |
| 904 | section, to read: |
| 905 | 633.082 Inspection of fire control systems, fire hydrants, |
| 906 | and fire protection systems.- |
| 907 | (2) Fire hydrants and fire protection systems installed in |
| 908 | public and private properties, except one-family or two-family |
| 909 | dwellings, in this state shall be inspected following procedures |
| 910 | established in the nationally recognized inspection, testing, |
| 911 | and maintenance standards NFPA-24 and NFPA-25 as set forth in |
| 912 | the edition adopted by the State Fire Marshal. Quarterly, |
| 913 | annual, 3-year, and 5-year inspections consistent with the |
| 914 | contractual provisions with the owner shall be conducted by the |
| 915 | certificateholder or permittees employed by the |
| 916 | certificateholder pursuant to s. 633.521. |
| 917 | (a) All alarm systems shall be serviced, tested, repaired, |
| 918 | inspected, and improved in compliance with the provisions of the |
| 919 | applicable standards of the National Fire Protection Association |
| 920 | adopted by the State Fire Marshal pursuant to ss. 633.071 and |
| 921 | 633.701. |
| 922 | (b) Fire hydrants owned by public governmental entities |
| 923 | shall be inspected following procedures established in the |
| 924 | nationally recognized inspection, testing, and maintenance |
| 925 | standards adopted by the State Fire Marshal. County, municipal, |
| 926 | and special district utilities may comply with this section with |
| 927 | designated employees notwithstanding the requirements of s. |
| 928 | 633.081. However, private contractors must be licensed pursuant |
| 929 | to this chapter. |
| 930 | (c) Fire protection systems installed in public and |
| 931 | private properties, and private hydrants that are attached to |
| 932 | and an integral part of the fire protection system, shall be |
| 933 | inspected following procedures established in the nationally |
| 934 | recognized inspection, testing, and maintenance standards |
| 935 | adopted by the State Fire Marshal. |
| 936 | (6) The owner shall replace any fire sprinkler heads that |
| 937 | have been identified by a governmental regulatory agency as |
| 938 | subject to a recall for a material defect in design or |
| 939 | workmanship. |
| 940 | Section 10. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) and |
| 941 | subsections (2), (3), and (4) of section 633.085, Florida |
| 942 | Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 943 | 633.085 Inspections of state buildings and premises; tests |
| 944 | of firesafety equipment; building plans to be approved.- |
| 945 | (1)(a) It is the duty of the State Fire Marshal and her or |
| 946 | his agents to inspect, or cause to be inspected, each state- |
| 947 | owned building, and each building located on land owned by the |
| 948 | state and used primarily for state purposes as determined by the |
| 949 | State Fire Marshal with such building for purposes of this |
| 950 | section referred to as a state-owned building, on a recurring |
| 951 | basis established by rule, and to ensure that high-hazard |
| 952 | occupancies are inspected at least annually, for the purpose of |
| 953 | ascertaining and causing to be corrected any conditions liable |
| 954 | to cause fire or endanger life from fire and any violation of |
| 955 | the firesafety standards for state-owned buildings, the |
| 956 | provisions of this chapter, or the rules or regulations adopted |
| 957 | and promulgated pursuant hereto. The State Fire Marshal shall, |
| 958 | within 7 days following an inspection, submit a report of such |
| 959 | inspection to the head of the department of state government |
| 960 | responsible for the building. |
| 961 | (2) The State Fire Marshal and her or his agents may shall |
| 962 | conduct performance tests on any electronic fire warning and |
| 963 | smoke detection system, and any pressurized air-handling unit, |
| 964 | in any state-owned building or state-leased space on a recurring |
| 965 | basis as provided in subsection (1). The State Fire Marshal and |
| 966 | her or his agents shall also ensure that fire drills are |
| 967 | conducted in all high-hazard state-owned building or high-hazard |
| 968 | state-leased high-hazard occupancies at least annually. |
| 969 | (3) All construction of any new, or renovation, |
| 970 | alteration, or change of occupancy of any existing, state-owned |
| 971 | building or state-leased building or space shall comply with the |
| 972 | uniform firesafety standards of the State Fire Marshal. |
| 973 | (a) For all new construction or renovation, alteration, or |
| 974 | change of occupancy of state-leased space, compliance with the |
| 975 | uniform firesafety standards shall be determined by reviewing |
| 976 | the plans for the proposed construction or occupancy submitted |
| 977 | by the lessor to the Division of State Fire Marshal for review |
| 978 | and approval prior to commencement of construction or occupancy, |
| 979 | which review shall be completed within 10 working days after |
| 980 | receipt of the plans by the Division of State Fire Marshal. |
| 981 | (b) The plans for all construction of any new, or |
| 982 | renovation or alteration of any existing, state-owned building |
| 983 | are subject to the review and approval of the Division of State |
| 984 | Fire Marshal for compliance with the uniform firesafety |
| 985 | standards prior to commencement of construction or change of |
| 986 | occupancy, which review shall be completed within 30 calendar |
| 987 | days of receipt of the plans by the Division of State Fire |
| 988 | Marshal. |
| 989 | (4) The Division of State Fire Marshal may inspect state- |
| 990 | owned buildings and space and state-leased buildings and space |
| 991 | as necessary prior to occupancy or during construction, |
| 992 | renovation, or alteration to ascertain compliance with the |
| 993 | uniform firesafety standards. Whenever the Division of State |
| 994 | Fire Marshal determines by virtue of such inspection or by |
| 995 | review of plans that construction, renovation, or alteration of |
| 996 | state-owned buildings and state-leased space is not in |
| 997 | compliance with the uniform firesafety standards, the Division |
| 998 | of State Fire Marshal shall issue an order to cease |
| 999 | construction, renovation, or alteration, or to preclude |
| 1000 | occupancy, of a building until compliance is obtained, except |
| 1001 | for those activities required to achieve such compliance. |
| 1002 | Section 11. Subsections (1) and (3) of section 633.161, |
| 1003 | Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 1004 | 633.161 Violations; orders to cease and desist, correct |
| 1005 | hazardous conditions, preclude occupancy, or vacate; |
| 1006 | enforcement; penalties.- |
| 1007 | (1) If it is determined by the department that a violation |
| 1008 | specified in this subsection exists, the State Fire Marshal or |
| 1009 | her or his agent deputy may issue and deliver to the person |
| 1010 | committing the violation an order to cease and desist from such |
| 1011 | violation, to correct any hazardous condition, to preclude |
| 1012 | occupancy of the affected building or structure, or to vacate |
| 1013 | the premises of the affected building or structure. Such |
| 1014 | violations consist of are: |
| 1015 | (a) Except as set forth in paragraph (b), a violation of |
| 1016 | any provision of this chapter, of any rule adopted pursuant |
| 1017 | thereto, of any applicable uniform firesafety standard adopted |
| 1018 | pursuant to s. 633.022 which is not adequately addressed by any |
| 1019 | alternative requirements adopted on a local level, or of any |
| 1020 | minimum firesafety standard adopted pursuant to s. 394.879. |
| 1021 | (b) A substantial violation of an applicable minimum |
| 1022 | firesafety standard adopted pursuant to s. 633.025 which is not |
| 1023 | reasonably addressed by any alternative requirement imposed at |
| 1024 | the local level, or an unreasonable interpretation of an |
| 1025 | applicable minimum firesafety standard, and which violation or |
| 1026 | interpretation clearly constitutes a danger to lifesafety. |
| 1027 | (c) A building or structure which is in a dilapidated |
| 1028 | condition and as a result thereof creates a danger to life, |
| 1029 | safety, or property. |
| 1030 | (d) A building or structure which contains explosive |
| 1031 | matter or flammable liquids or gases constituting a danger to |
| 1032 | life, safety, or property. |
| 1033 | (e) Any organization that acts as or offers to act as a |
| 1034 | fire department that is not designated as a fire department by a |
| 1035 | political subdivision of the state. |
| 1036 | (3) Any person who violates or fails to comply with any |
| 1037 | order under subsection (1) or subsection (2) commits is guilty |
| 1038 | of a misdemeanor, punishable as provided in s. 633.171. |
| 1039 | Section 12. Section 633.30, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 1040 | to read: |
| 1041 | 633.30 Standards for firefighting; definitions.-As used in |
| 1042 | this chapter, the term: |
| 1043 | (1) "Career firefighter" means any person who is |
| 1044 | compensated at an hourly rate or is salaried and whose work |
| 1045 | hours are scheduled in advance to maintain a schedule of |
| 1046 | coverage at a state facility or area to function as described in |
| 1047 | subsection (8). |
| 1048 | (2)(4) "Council" means the Firefighters Employment, |
| 1049 | Standards, and Training Council. |
| 1050 | (3) "Department" means the Department of Financial |
| 1051 | Services. |
| 1052 | (4)(5) "Division" means the Division of State Fire Marshal |
| 1053 | of the Department of Financial Services. |
| 1054 | (5)(2) "Employing agency" means any municipality or |
| 1055 | county, the state, or any political subdivision of the state, |
| 1056 | including authorities and special districts, employing |
| 1057 | firefighters as defined in subsection (8) (1). |
| 1058 | (6) "Fire department" means an organization designated by |
| 1059 | a county, municipality, or independent special fire control |
| 1060 | district to provide emergency responses for the protection of |
| 1061 | life and property within a specified geographical area. |
| 1062 | (7) "Fire service aide" means a high school student or |
| 1063 | other individual who completes a course of instruction and |
| 1064 | examination approved by the division that includes specified |
| 1065 | components of firefighter I and II certification in accordance |
| 1066 | with the division's rules. |
| 1067 | (8)(1) "Firefighter" means any person initially employed |
| 1068 | as a full-time professional firefighter by any employing agency, |
| 1069 | as defined herein, whose primary responsibility is the emergency |
| 1070 | response to fires and other emergencies, the prevention and |
| 1071 | extinguishment of fires, the protection and saving of life and |
| 1072 | property, and the enforcement of municipal, county, and state |
| 1073 | fire prevention codes, as well as of any law pertaining to the |
| 1074 | prevention and control of fires. |
| 1075 | (9) "Firefighter I" means the classification for a person |
| 1076 | who has successfully completed the firefighter I training |
| 1077 | program and is certified at level I in accordance with the |
| 1078 | division's rules. |
| 1079 | (10) "Firefighter II" means the classification for a |
| 1080 | person who has successfully completed the firefighter II |
| 1081 | training program and is certified at level II in accordance with |
| 1082 | the division's rules. Firefighter II classification is the |
| 1083 | minimum level of certification to function as a career |
| 1084 | firefighter. |
| 1085 | Section 13. Section 633.34, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 1086 | to read: |
| 1087 | 633.34 Firefighters; qualifications for employment.- |
| 1088 | (1) Any individual person applying for employment or |
| 1089 | training as a firefighter must: |
| 1090 | (a)(1) Be a high school graduate or the equivalent, as the |
| 1091 | term may be determined by the division, and at least 18 years of |
| 1092 | age. |
| 1093 | (b)(2) Not Neither have been found guilty convicted of or |
| 1094 | pled guilty or a felony or of a misdemeanor directly related to |
| 1095 | the position of employment sought, nor have pled nolo contendere |
| 1096 | to any charge of a felony or a crime punishable by imprisonment |
| 1097 | of 1 year or more under the laws of the United States or of any |
| 1098 | state thereof or under the laws of any other country. If an |
| 1099 | applicant has been convicted of a felony, such applicant must be |
| 1100 | in compliance with s. 112.011(2)(b). If an applicant has been |
| 1101 | convicted of a misdemeanor directly related to the position of |
| 1102 | employment sought, such applicant shall be excluded from |
| 1103 | employment for a period of 4 years after expiration of sentence. |
| 1104 | If the sentence is suspended or adjudication is withheld in a |
| 1105 | felony charge or in a misdemeanor directly related to the |
| 1106 | position or employment sought and a period of probation is |
| 1107 | imposed, the applicant must have been released from probation. |
| 1108 | (c)(3) Have paid the required fee for fingerprint |
| 1109 | processing and submitted fingerprints as directed by the |
| 1110 | division. Submit a fingerprint card to the division with a |
| 1111 | current processing fee. The fingerprints shall fingerprint card |
| 1112 | will be forwarded to the Department of Law Enforcement and |
| 1113 | and/or the Federal Bureau of Investigation for analysis pursuant |
| 1114 | to s. 624.34. |
| 1115 | (4) Have a good moral character as determined by |
| 1116 | investigation under procedure established by the division. |
| 1117 | (d)(5) Be in good physical condition as determined by a |
| 1118 | recent medical examination, conducted in accordance with the |
| 1119 | medical requirements for training and certification as set forth |
| 1120 | in rules adopted by the division, given by a physician, surgeon, |
| 1121 | or physician assistant licensed to practice in the state |
| 1122 | pursuant to chapter 458; an osteopathic physician, surgeon, or |
| 1123 | physician assistant licensed to practice in the state pursuant |
| 1124 | to chapter 459; or an advanced registered nurse practitioner |
| 1125 | licensed to practice in the state pursuant to chapter 464. Such |
| 1126 | examination may include, but need not be limited to, provisions |
| 1127 | of the National Fire Protection Association Standard 1582. |
| 1128 | Results of such A medical examination evidencing good physical |
| 1129 | condition shall be submitted to the division, on a form as |
| 1130 | provided by rule, before an individual is eligible for admission |
| 1131 | into a firefighter training program as defined in s. 633.35. |
| 1132 | (e)(6) Be a nonuser of tobacco or tobacco products for at |
| 1133 | least 1 year immediately preceding application or employment or |
| 1134 | commencement of training for certification as a career |
| 1135 | firefighter, as evidenced by the sworn affidavit of the |
| 1136 | applicant. A career firefighter certified after December 31, |
| 1137 | 2010, must be a nonuser of tobacco as a condition of employment. |
| 1138 | (2) An individual who does not hold a fire service aide, |
| 1139 | firefighter I, or firefighter II certificate may not engage in |
| 1140 | any operations that require the knowledge and skills taught in |
| 1141 | the training programs established by the division, regardless of |
| 1142 | volunteer or employment status. |
| 1143 | Section 14. Section 633.35, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 1144 | to read: |
| 1145 | 633.35 Firefighter training and certification.- |
| 1146 | (1) The division shall adopt rules to establish a |
| 1147 | firefighter training programs for certification as a fire |
| 1148 | service aide, a firefighter I, and a firefighter II, to be |
| 1149 | program of not less than 360 hours, administered by such |
| 1150 | agencies and institutions approved by the division in accordance |
| 1151 | with division rules as it approves for the purpose of providing |
| 1152 | basic employment training for firefighters. Nothing herein shall |
| 1153 | require a public employer to pay the cost of such training. |
| 1154 | Certificates of compliance previously issued by this state that |
| 1155 | do not identify Level I or Level II but that comply with the |
| 1156 | requirements of ss. 633.351 and 633.352 shall remain in effect. |
| 1157 | (2) The division shall issue certificates a certificate of |
| 1158 | compliance for certification as a fire service aide, a |
| 1159 | firefighter I, and a firefighter II to any individual person who |
| 1160 | has satisfactorily completed complying with the training |
| 1161 | programs program established in subsection (1), who has |
| 1162 | successfully passed an examination as prescribed by the |
| 1163 | division, and who possesses the qualifications specified for |
| 1164 | employment in s. 633.34, except s. 633.34(5). An individual No |
| 1165 | person may not be employed as a career regular or permanent |
| 1166 | firefighter by an employing agency, or by a private entity under |
| 1167 | contract with the state or any political subdivision of the |
| 1168 | state, including authorities and special districts, unless the |
| 1169 | individual is certified as a firefighter II, except for an |
| 1170 | individual hired to be trained and become certified as a |
| 1171 | firefighter II. An individual hired to be trained and become |
| 1172 | certified as a firefighter II has no longer than for a period of |
| 1173 | time in excess of 1 year after from the date of initial |
| 1174 | employment to obtain the firefighter II until he or she has |
| 1175 | obtained such certificate of compliance. An individual A person |
| 1176 | who does not hold a firefighter II certificate of compliance and |
| 1177 | is employed under this section may not directly engage in |
| 1178 | hazardous operations, such as interior structural firefighting |
| 1179 | and hazardous-materials-incident mitigation, requiring the |
| 1180 | knowledge and skills taught in a training program established in |
| 1181 | subsection (1). However, a current member of an employing agency |
| 1182 | person who is certified as a fire service aide or a firefighter |
| 1183 | I has served as a volunteer firefighter with the state or any |
| 1184 | political subdivision of the state, including authorities and |
| 1185 | special districts, who is then employed as a career regular or |
| 1186 | permanent firefighter by the same employing agency may function, |
| 1187 | during this initial 1-year period, in the same capacity in which |
| 1188 | he or she acted prior to being employed as a career firefighter |
| 1189 | by the employing agency as a volunteer firefighter, provided |
| 1190 | that he or she has completed all training required by the |
| 1191 | volunteer organization. |
| 1192 | (3) The division may issue a certificate of compliance as |
| 1193 | a firefighter I or firefighter II to any individual person who |
| 1194 | has received basic employment training for firefighters in |
| 1195 | another state when the division has determined that such |
| 1196 | training was at least equivalent to that required by the |
| 1197 | division for approved firefighter education and training |
| 1198 | programs in this state and when such person has satisfactorily |
| 1199 | complied with all other requirements of this section. |
| 1200 | (4) The division may also issue a Fire Service |
| 1201 | Administrative and Command Head special certificate to an |
| 1202 | individual a person who received training in another state and |
| 1203 | is otherwise qualified under this section and who is employed as |
| 1204 | the administrative and command head of a fire/rescue/emergency |
| 1205 | services organization, based on the acknowledgment that such |
| 1206 | individual person is less likely to need physical dexterity and |
| 1207 | more likely to need advanced knowledge of firefighting and |
| 1208 | supervisory skills. For purposes of this subsection: |
| 1209 | (a) The certificate is valid only while the individual |
| 1210 | person is serving in a position as an administrative and command |
| 1211 | head of a fire/rescue/emergency services organization. |
| 1212 | (b) The certificateholder is limited at emergency scenes |
| 1213 | to command and control functions. |
| 1214 | (c) From the date of being hired, the individual has 1 |
| 1215 | year to acquire the certificate. During the period from being |
| 1216 | hired to the issuance of the special certificate, the individual |
| 1217 | may operate only in an administrative capacity and may not |
| 1218 | engage in any emergency activity including command and control |
| 1219 | functions at such emergencies. |
| 1220 | (d) If at the end of the 1-year period, the individual has |
| 1221 | not acquired the certificate, the employing agency shall |
| 1222 | terminate the employment of the individual or submit an |
| 1223 | affidavit approved by the division attesting that the individual |
| 1224 | functions only in an administrative capacity. |
| 1225 | (5)(4) An applicant A person who fails a required an |
| 1226 | examination given under this section may retake the examination |
| 1227 | once within 6 months after the original examination date. An |
| 1228 | applicant who does not pass retake the examination within such |
| 1229 | time must repeat or take the applicable training program take |
| 1230 | the Minimum Standards Course, pursuant to subsection (1), before |
| 1231 | being reexamined. The division may establish reasonable |
| 1232 | preregistration deadlines for such reexaminations. |
| 1233 | (6)(5) Pursuant to s. 590.02(1)(e), the division shall |
| 1234 | establish a structural fire training program of not less than 40 |
| 1235 | hours. The division shall issue to any person satisfactorily |
| 1236 | complying with this training program and who has successfully |
| 1237 | passed an examination as prescribed by the division and who has |
| 1238 | met the requirements of s. 590.02(1)(e) a Certificate of |
| 1239 | Forestry Firefighter. |
| 1240 | (7)(6) A certified forestry firefighter is entitled to the |
| 1241 | same rights, privileges, and benefits provided for by law as a |
| 1242 | career certified firefighter. |
| 1243 | Section 15. Section 633.351, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 1244 | to read: |
| 1245 | 633.351 Disciplinary action; firefighters; standards for |
| 1246 | revocation of certification.- |
| 1247 | (1) The certification of a firefighter shall be revoked by |
| 1248 | the department if evidence is found that the certification was |
| 1249 | improperly issued by the division or if evidence is found that |
| 1250 | the certification was issued on the basis of false, incorrect, |
| 1251 | incomplete, or misleading information. |
| 1252 | (2) The department shall revoke the certification of a |
| 1253 | firefighter who has been found guilty of, or pled guilty or nolo |
| 1254 | contendere to, any felony or a crime punishable by imprisonment |
| 1255 | of 1 year or more under the laws of the United States or any |
| 1256 | state of the United States or under the laws of any other |
| 1257 | country, without regard to whether a judgment of conviction has |
| 1258 | been entered or adjudication has been withheld by the court |
| 1259 | having jurisdiction of the case is convicted of a felony, or who |
| 1260 | is convicted of a misdemeanor relating to misleading or false |
| 1261 | statements, or who pleads nolo contendere to any charge of a |
| 1262 | felony shall be revoked until the firefighter complies with s. |
| 1263 | 112.011(2)(b). However, if sentence upon such felony or such |
| 1264 | misdemeanor charge is suspended or adjudication is withheld, the |
| 1265 | firefighter's certification shall be revoked until she or he |
| 1266 | completes any probation. |
| 1267 | (3) If a firefighter certification is revoked, all |
| 1268 | certifications issued in accordance with s. 633.33 held by the |
| 1269 | individual shall also be revoked. |
| 1270 | (4) The division shall adopt rules setting forth the |
| 1271 | conditions under which an individual whose certificate has been |
| 1272 | revoked can be issued a new certificate of compliance. |
| 1273 | Section 16. Section 633.352, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 1274 | to read: |
| 1275 | 633.352 Retention of firefighter certification.- |
| 1276 | (1) Any certified firefighter who has not been active as a |
| 1277 | firefighter, or as a volunteer firefighter with an organized |
| 1278 | fire department, for a period of at least 3 years but less than |
| 1279 | 6 years shall be required to retake and pass the written and |
| 1280 | practical portions portion of the minimum standards state |
| 1281 | examination specified in division rules rule 4A-37.056(6)(b), |
| 1282 | Florida Administrative Code, in order to maintain her or his |
| 1283 | certification as a firefighter; however, this requirement does |
| 1284 | not apply to state-certified instructors, as determined by the |
| 1285 | division. The 3-year period begins on the date the certificate |
| 1286 | of compliance is issued or upon termination of service with an |
| 1287 | organized fire department. |
| 1288 | (2) The certification of a firefighter who has not been |
| 1289 | active as a firefighter with an organized fire department for |
| 1290 | more than 6 years automatically expires. To acquire |
| 1291 | certification, the individual must comply with current |
| 1292 | curriculum and certification requirements as defined in division |
| 1293 | rules. |
| 1294 | (3) The 3-year and 6-year periods, as applicable, begin on |
| 1295 | the date the firefighter I or firefighter II certificate of |
| 1296 | compliance is issued or upon the date of termination of service |
| 1297 | with an organized fire department. |
| 1298 | (4) A certified firesafety inspector employed or under |
| 1299 | contract as a firesafety inspector for any agency set forth in |
| 1300 | s. 633.081(1) and a certified active fire instructor who is also |
| 1301 | a certified firefighter retains his or her firefighter |
| 1302 | certification as provided by division rule. |
| 1303 | Section 17. Subsections (1), (2), (3), and (4) of section |
| 1304 | 633.382, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 1305 | 633.382 Career firefighters; supplemental compensation.- |
| 1306 | (1) DEFINITION DEFINITIONS.-As used in this section, the |
| 1307 | term "accredited" means having received accreditation from an |
| 1308 | accrediting agency that is recognized by the United States |
| 1309 | Department of Education.: |
| 1310 | (a) "Employing agency" means any municipality or any |
| 1311 | county, the state, or any political subdivision of the state, |
| 1312 | including authorities and special districts employing |
| 1313 | firefighters. |
| 1314 | (b) "Firefighter" means any person who meets the |
| 1315 | definition of the term "firefighter" in s. 633.30(1) who is |
| 1316 | certified in compliance with s. 633.35 and who is employed |
| 1317 | solely within the fire department of the employing agency or is |
| 1318 | employed by the division. |
| 1319 | (2) QUALIFICATIONS FOR SUPPLEMENTAL COMPENSATION.- |
| 1320 | (a) In addition to the compensation now paid by an |
| 1321 | employing agency to a career any firefighter, except a career |
| 1322 | firefighter employed by a private entity under contract to |
| 1323 | provide services to a municipality or county, the state, or any |
| 1324 | political subdivision of the state, including authorities and |
| 1325 | special districts, every career firefighter shall be paid |
| 1326 | supplemental compensation by the employing agency when such |
| 1327 | firefighter has complied with one of the following criteria: |
| 1328 | 1. Any career firefighter who receives an associate degree |
| 1329 | from an accredited a college, which degree is applicable to fire |
| 1330 | department duties, as outlined in policy guidelines of the |
| 1331 | division, shall be additionally compensated as outlined in |
| 1332 | paragraph (3)(a). |
| 1333 | 2. Any career firefighter, regardless of whether or not |
| 1334 | she or he earned an associate degree earlier, who receives from |
| 1335 | an accredited college or university a bachelor's degree, which |
| 1336 | bachelor's degree is applicable to fire department duties, as |
| 1337 | outlined in policy guidelines of the division, shall receive |
| 1338 | compensation as outlined in paragraph (3)(b). |
| 1339 | (b) Whenever any question arises as to the eligibility of |
| 1340 | any career firefighter to receive supplemental compensation as |
| 1341 | provided in this section, the question, together with all facts |
| 1342 | relating thereto, shall be submitted to the division for |
| 1343 | determination, and the decision of the division with regard to |
| 1344 | determination of eligibility shall be final, subject to the |
| 1345 | provisions of chapter 120. |
| 1346 | (3) SUPPLEMENTAL COMPENSATION.-Supplemental compensation |
| 1347 | shall be determined as follows: |
| 1348 | (a) Fifty dollars shall be paid monthly to each career |
| 1349 | firefighter who qualifies under the provisions of subparagraph |
| 1350 | (2)(a)1. |
| 1351 | (b) One hundred and ten dollars shall be paid monthly to |
| 1352 | each career firefighter who qualifies under the provisions of |
| 1353 | subparagraph (2)(a)2. |
| 1354 | (4) FUNDING.- |
| 1355 | (a) The employing agency is responsible for the correct |
| 1356 | payment of career firefighters pursuant to the provisions of |
| 1357 | this section. The division may review, in a postaudit capacity, |
| 1358 | any action taken by an agency in administering the educational |
| 1359 | incentive program. The employing agency shall take appropriate |
| 1360 | action when a postaudit shows that an action taken by the |
| 1361 | employing agency was in error. |
| 1362 | (b) Each agency employing career firefighters who are |
| 1363 | eligible for this compensation shall submit reports containing |
| 1364 | information relating to compensation paid as a result of this |
| 1365 | section to the division on March 31, June 30, September 30, and |
| 1366 | December 31 of each year. |
| 1367 | (c) There is appropriated from the Police and |
| 1368 | Firefighter's Premium Tax Trust Fund to the Firefighters' |
| 1369 | Supplemental Compensation Trust Fund, which is hereby created |
| 1370 | under the Department of Revenue, all moneys which have not been |
| 1371 | distributed to municipalities and special fire control districts |
| 1372 | in accordance with s. 175.121 as a result of the limitation |
| 1373 | contained in s. 175.122 on the disbursement of revenues |
| 1374 | collected pursuant to chapter 175 or as a result of any |
| 1375 | municipality or special fire control district not having |
| 1376 | qualified in any given year, or portion thereof, for |
| 1377 | participation in the distribution of the revenues collected |
| 1378 | pursuant to chapter 175. The total required annual distribution |
| 1379 | from the Firefighters' Supplemental Compensation Trust Fund |
| 1380 | shall equal the amount necessary to pay supplemental |
| 1381 | compensation as provided in this section, provided that: |
| 1382 | 1. Any deficit in the total required annual distribution |
| 1383 | shall be made up from accrued surplus funds existing in the |
| 1384 | Firefighters' Supplemental Compensation Trust Fund on June 30, |
| 1385 | 1990, for as long as such funds last. If the accrued surplus is |
| 1386 | insufficient to cure the deficit in any given year, the |
| 1387 | proration of the appropriation among the counties, |
| 1388 | municipalities, and special fire service taxing districts shall |
| 1389 | equal the ratio of compensation paid in the prior year to |
| 1390 | county, municipal, and special fire service taxing district |
| 1391 | career firefighters pursuant to this section. This ratio shall |
| 1392 | be provided annually to the Department of Revenue by the |
| 1393 | Division of State Fire Marshal. Surplus funds that have accrued |
| 1394 | or accrue on or after July 1, 1990, shall be redistributed to |
| 1395 | municipalities and special fire control districts as provided in |
| 1396 | subparagraph 2. |
| 1397 | 2. By October 1 of each year, any funds that have accrued |
| 1398 | or accrue on or after July 1, 1990, and remain in the |
| 1399 | Firefighters' Supplemental Compensation Trust Fund following the |
| 1400 | required annual distribution shall be redistributed by the |
| 1401 | Department of Revenue pro rata to those municipalities and |
| 1402 | special fire control districts identified by the Department of |
| 1403 | Management Services as being eligible for additional funds |
| 1404 | pursuant to s. 175.121(3)(b). |
| 1405 | (d) Salary incentive payments to career firefighters shall |
| 1406 | commence in the first full calendar month following the initial |
| 1407 | date of certification of eligibility by the Division of State |
| 1408 | Fire Marshal. |
| 1409 | (e) Special fire service taxing districts are authorized |
| 1410 | and empowered to expend the funds necessary to ensure correct |
| 1411 | payment to career firefighters. |
| 1412 | Section 18. Paragraph (e) of subsection (2) and |
| 1413 | subsections (3) and (10) of section 633.521, Florida Statutes, |
| 1414 | are amended to read: |
| 1415 | 633.521 Certificate application and issuance; permit |
| 1416 | issuance; examination and investigation of applicant.- |
| 1417 | (2) |
| 1418 | (e) An applicant may not be examined more than four times |
| 1419 | during 1 year for certification as a contractor pursuant to this |
| 1420 | section unless the person is or has been certified and is taking |
| 1421 | the examination to change classifications. If an applicant does |
| 1422 | not pass one or more parts of the examination, she or he may |
| 1423 | take any part of the examination three more times during the 1- |
| 1424 | year period beginning upon the date she or he originally filed |
| 1425 | an application to take the examination. If the applicant does |
| 1426 | not pass the examination within that 1-year period, she or he |
| 1427 | must file a new application and pay the application and |
| 1428 | examination fees in order to take the examination or a part of |
| 1429 | the examination again. However, the applicant may not file a new |
| 1430 | application sooner than 6 months after the date of her or his |
| 1431 | last examination. An applicant who passes the examination but |
| 1432 | does not meet the remaining qualifications as provided in |
| 1433 | applicable statutes and rules within 1 year after the |
| 1434 | application date must file a new application, pay the |
| 1435 | application and examination fee, successfully complete a |
| 1436 | prescribed training course approved by the State Fire College or |
| 1437 | an equivalent court approved by the State Fire Marshal, and |
| 1438 | retake and pass the written examination. |
| 1439 | (3)(a)1. As a prerequisite to taking the examination for |
| 1440 | certification as a Contractor I, Contractor II, or Contractor |
| 1441 | III, the applicant must be at least 18 years of age, be of good |
| 1442 | moral character, and shall possess 4 years' proven experience in |
| 1443 | the employment of a fire protection system Contractor I, |
| 1444 | Contractor II, or Contractor III or a combination of equivalent |
| 1445 | education and experience in both water-based and chemical fire |
| 1446 | suppression systems. |
| 1447 | 2. As a prerequisite to taking the examination for |
| 1448 | certification as a Contractor II, the applicant must be at least |
| 1449 | 18 years of age, be of good moral character, and have 4 years' |
| 1450 | proven experience in the employment of a fire protection system |
| 1451 | Contractor I or Contractor II or a combination of equivalent |
| 1452 | education and experience in water-based fire suppression |
| 1453 | systems. |
| 1454 | 3. As a prerequisite to taking the examination for |
| 1455 | certification as a Contractor III, the applicant must be at |
| 1456 | least 18 years of age, be of good moral character, and have 4 |
| 1457 | years' proven experience in the employment of a fire protection |
| 1458 | system Contractor I or Contractor III or a combination of |
| 1459 | equivalent education and experience in chemical fire suppression |
| 1460 | systems. |
| 1461 | 4. As a prerequisite to taking the examination for |
| 1462 | certification as a Contractor IV, the applicant must shall be at |
| 1463 | least 18 years old, be of good moral character, and have at |
| 1464 | least 2 years' proven experience in the employment of a fire |
| 1465 | protection system Contractor I, Contractor II, or Contractor IV |
| 1466 | or a combination of equivalent education and experience. |
| 1467 | 5. As a prerequisite to taking the examination for |
| 1468 | certification as a Contractor IV, the applicant must shall be at |
| 1469 | least 18 years old, be of good moral character, and have at |
| 1470 | least 2 years' proven experience in the employment of a fire |
| 1471 | protection system Contractor I, Contractor II, Contractor III, |
| 1472 | or Contractor IV or combination of equivalent education and |
| 1473 | experience which combination need not include experience in the |
| 1474 | employment of a fire protection system contractor. |
| 1475 | 6. As a prerequisite to taking the examination for |
| 1476 | certification as a Contractor V, the applicant, including any |
| 1477 | applicant certified as a general contractor pursuant to chapter |
| 1478 | 489, must shall be at least 18 years old, be of good moral |
| 1479 | character, and have been licensed as a certified underground |
| 1480 | utility and excavation contractor or plumbing contractor |
| 1481 | pursuant to chapter 489, have verification by an individual who |
| 1482 | is licensed as a certified utility contractor or plumbing |
| 1483 | contractor pursuant to chapter 489 that the applicant has 4 |
| 1484 | years' proven experience in the employ of a certified |
| 1485 | underground utility and excavation contractor or plumbing |
| 1486 | contractor, or have a combination of education and experience |
| 1487 | equivalent to 4 years' proven experience in the employ of a |
| 1488 | certified underground utility and excavation contractor or |
| 1489 | plumbing contractor. |
| 1490 | (b) Required education and experience for Contractor I, |
| 1491 | Contractor II, Contractor III, and Contractor IV certifications |
| 1492 | includes training and experience in both the installation and |
| 1493 | system layout as defined in s. 633.021(15). |
| 1494 | (c) Within 30 days after the date of the examination, the |
| 1495 | State Fire Marshal shall inform the applicant in writing whether |
| 1496 | she or he has qualified or not and, if the applicant has |
| 1497 | qualified, that she or he is ready to issue a certificate of |
| 1498 | competency, subject to compliance with the requirements of |
| 1499 | subsection (4). |
| 1500 | (10) Effective July 1, 2008, the State Fire Marshal shall |
| 1501 | require the National Institute of Certification in Engineering |
| 1502 | Technologies (NICET), Sub-field of Inspection and Testing of |
| 1503 | Fire Protection Systems Level II or equivalent training and |
| 1504 | education as determined by the division as proof that the |
| 1505 | permitholders are knowledgeable about nationally accepted |
| 1506 | standards for the inspection of fire protection systems. It is |
| 1507 | the intent of this act, from July 1, 2005, until July 1, 2008, |
| 1508 | to accept continuing education of all certificateholders' |
| 1509 | employees who perform inspection functions which specifically |
| 1510 | prepares the permitholder to qualify for NICET II certification. |
| 1511 | Section 19. Subsection (3) is added to section 633.524, |
| 1512 | Florida Statutes, to read: |
| 1513 | 633.524 Certificate and permit fees; examinations and |
| 1514 | fees; use and deposit of collected funds.- |
| 1515 | (3) The State Fire Marshal may enter into a contract with |
| 1516 | any qualified public entity or private company in accordance |
| 1517 | with chapter 287 to provide examinations for any applicant for |
| 1518 | any examination administered under the jurisdiction of the State |
| 1519 | Fire Marshal. The State Fire Marshal may direct payments from |
| 1520 | each applicant for each examination directly to such contracted |
| 1521 | entity or company. |
| 1522 | Section 20. Subsection (4) of section 633.537, Florida |
| 1523 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 1524 | 633.537 Certificate; expiration; renewal; inactive |
| 1525 | certificate; continuing education.- |
| 1526 | (4) The renewal period for the permit class is the same as |
| 1527 | that for the employing certificateholder. The continuing |
| 1528 | education requirements for permitholders are what is required to |
| 1529 | maintain NICET Sub-field of Inspection and Testing of Fire |
| 1530 | Protection Systems Level II or higher certification plus 8 |
| 1531 | contact hours of continuing education during each biennial |
| 1532 | renewal period thereafter. The continuing education curriculum |
| 1533 | from July 1, 2005, until July 1, 2008, shall be the preparatory |
| 1534 | curriculum for NICET II certification; after July 1, 2008, the |
| 1535 | technical curriculum is at the discretion of the State Fire |
| 1536 | Marshal and may be used to meet the maintenance of NICET Level |
| 1537 | II certification and 8 contact hours of continuing education |
| 1538 | requirements. It is the responsibility of the permitholder to |
| 1539 | maintain NICET II certification as a condition of permit renewal |
| 1540 | after July 1, 2008. |
| 1541 | Section 21. Subsection (4) of section 633.72, Florida |
| 1542 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 1543 | 633.72 Florida Fire Code Advisory Council.- |
| 1544 | (4) Each appointee shall serve a 4-year term. A No member |
| 1545 | may not shall serve more than two consecutive terms one term. No |
| 1546 | member of the council shall be paid a salary as such member, but |
| 1547 | each shall receive travel and expense reimbursement as provided |
| 1548 | in s. 112.061. |
| 1549 | Section 22. Section 633.811, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 1550 | to read: |
| 1551 | 633.811 Firefighter employer penalties.- |
| 1552 | (1) If any firefighter employer violates or fails or |
| 1553 | refuses to comply with ss. 633.801-633.821, or with any rule |
| 1554 | adopted by the division under such sections in accordance with |
| 1555 | chapter 120 for the prevention of injuries, accidents, or |
| 1556 | occupational diseases or with any lawful order of the division |
| 1557 | in connection with ss. 633.801-633.821, or fails or refuses to |
| 1558 | furnish or adopt any safety device, safeguard, or other means of |
| 1559 | protection prescribed by division rule under ss. 633.801-633.821 |
| 1560 | for the prevention of accidents or occupational diseases, the |
| 1561 | division may: |
| 1562 | (a) Issue an administrative cease and desist order, |
| 1563 | enforceable in the circuit court of the jurisdiction in which |
| 1564 | the violation is occurring or has occurred. |
| 1565 | (b) In a proceeding initiated pursuant to chapter 120, |
| 1566 | assess against the firefighter employer an administrative a |
| 1567 | civil penalty of not less than $100 nor more than $5,000 for |
| 1568 | each day the violation, omission, failure, or refusal continues |
| 1569 | after the firefighter employer has been given written notice of |
| 1570 | such violation, omission, failure, or refusal. The total penalty |
| 1571 | for each violation shall not exceed $50,000. The division shall |
| 1572 | adopt rules requiring penalties commensurate with the frequency |
| 1573 | or severity of safety violations. A hearing shall be held in |
| 1574 | Leon County the county in which the violation, omission, |
| 1575 | failure, or refusal is alleged to have occurred, unless |
| 1576 | otherwise agreed to by the firefighter employer and authorized |
| 1577 | by the division. All penalties assessed and collected under this |
| 1578 | section shall be deposited in the Insurance Regulatory Trust |
| 1579 | Fund. |
| 1580 | (2) An administrative cease and desist order or proceeding |
| 1581 | may not be initiated and a fine may not accrue until after the |
| 1582 | firefighter employer has been notified in writing of the nature |
| 1583 | of the violation and has been afforded a reasonable period of |
| 1584 | time, as set forth in the notice, to correct the violation and |
| 1585 | has failed to do so. |
| 1586 | Section 23. Subsection (3) of section 633.821, Florida |
| 1587 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 1588 | 633.821 Workplace safety.- |
| 1589 | (3) With respect to 29 C.F.R. s. 1910.134(g)(4), the two |
| 1590 | individuals located outside the immediately dangerous to life |
| 1591 | and health atmosphere may be assigned to an additional role, |
| 1592 | such as incident commander, pumper operator, engineer, or |
| 1593 | driver, so long as such individual is able to immediately |
| 1594 | perform assistance or rescue activities without jeopardizing the |
| 1595 | safety or health of any firefighter working at an incident. Also |
| 1596 | with respect to 29 C.F.R. s. 1910.134(g)(4): |
| 1597 | (a) Each county, municipality, and special district shall |
| 1598 | implement such provision by April 1, 2002, except as provided in |
| 1599 | paragraphs (b) and (c). |
| 1600 | (b) If any county, municipality, or special district is |
| 1601 | unable to implement such provision by April 1, 2002, without |
| 1602 | adding additional personnel to its firefighting staff or |
| 1603 | expending significant additional funds, such county, |
| 1604 | municipality, or special district shall have an additional 6 |
| 1605 | months within which to implement such provision. Such county, |
| 1606 | municipality, or special district shall notify the division that |
| 1607 | the 6-month extension to implement such provision is in effect |
| 1608 | in such county, municipality, or special district within 30 days |
| 1609 | after its decision to extend the time for the additional 6 |
| 1610 | months. The decision to extend the time for implementation shall |
| 1611 | be made prior to April 1, 2002. |
| 1612 | (c) If, after the extension granted in paragraph (b), the |
| 1613 | county, municipality, or special district, after having worked |
| 1614 | with and cooperated fully with the division and the Firefighters |
| 1615 | Employment, Standards, and Training Council, is still unable to |
| 1616 | implement such provisions without adding additional personnel to |
| 1617 | its firefighting staff or expending significant additional |
| 1618 | funds, such municipality, county, or special district shall be |
| 1619 | exempt from the requirements of 29 C.F.R. s. 1910.134(g)(4). |
| 1620 | However, each year thereafter the division shall review each |
| 1621 | such county, municipality, or special district to determine if |
| 1622 | such county, municipality, or special district has the ability |
| 1623 | to implement such provision without adding additional personnel |
| 1624 | to its firefighting staff or expending significant additional |
| 1625 | funds. If the division determines that any county, municipality, |
| 1626 | or special district has the ability to implement such provision |
| 1627 | without adding additional personnel to its firefighting staff or |
| 1628 | expending significant additional funds, the division shall |
| 1629 | require such county, municipality, or special district to |
| 1630 | implement such provision. Such requirement by the division under |
| 1631 | this paragraph constitutes final agency action subject to |
| 1632 | chapter 120. |
| 1633 | Section 24. Paragraph (e) of subsection (1) of section |
| 1634 | 218.23, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 1635 | 218.23 Revenue sharing with units of local government.- |
| 1636 | (1) To be eligible to participate in revenue sharing |
| 1637 | beyond the minimum entitlement in any fiscal year, a unit of |
| 1638 | local government is required to have: |
| 1639 | (e) Certified that persons in its employ as career |
| 1640 | firefighters, as defined in s. 633.30(1), meet the qualification |
| 1641 | for employment as established by the Division of State Fire |
| 1642 | Marshal pursuant to the provisions of ss. 633.34 and 633.35 and |
| 1643 | that the provisions of s. 633.382 have been met. |
| 1644 |
|
| 1645 | Additionally, to receive its share of revenue sharing funds, a |
| 1646 | unit of local government shall certify to the Department of |
| 1647 | Revenue that the requirements of s. 200.065, if applicable, were |
| 1648 | met. The certification shall be made annually within 30 days of |
| 1649 | adoption of an ordinance or resolution establishing a final |
| 1650 | property tax levy or, if no property tax is levied, not later |
| 1651 | than November 1. The portion of revenue sharing funds which, |
| 1652 | pursuant to this part, would otherwise be distributed to a unit |
| 1653 | of local government which has not certified compliance or has |
| 1654 | otherwise failed to meet the requirements of s. 200.065 shall be |
| 1655 | deposited in the General Revenue Fund for the 12 months |
| 1656 | following a determination of noncompliance by the department. |
| 1657 | Section 25. Paragraph (b) of subsection (4) of section |
| 1658 | 447.203, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 1659 | 447.203 Definitions.-As used in this part: |
| 1660 | (4) "Managerial employees" are those employees who: |
| 1661 | (b) Serve as police chiefs, fire chiefs, or directors of |
| 1662 | public safety of any police, fire, or public safety department. |
| 1663 | Other police officers, as defined in s. 943.10(1), and career |
| 1664 | firefighters, as defined in s. 633.30(1), may be determined by |
| 1665 | the commission to be managerial employees of such departments. |
| 1666 | In making such determinations, the commission shall consider, in |
| 1667 | addition to the criteria established in paragraph (a), the |
| 1668 | paramilitary organizational structure of the department |
| 1669 | involved. |
| 1670 |
|
| 1671 | However, in determining whether an individual is a managerial |
| 1672 | employee pursuant to either paragraph (a) or paragraph (b), |
| 1673 | above, the commission may consider historic relationships of the |
| 1674 | employee to the public employer and to coemployees. |
| 1675 | Section 26. Subsection (22) of section 489.103, Florida |
| 1676 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 1677 | 489.103 Exemptions.-This part does not apply to: |
| 1678 | (22) A person licensed pursuant to s. 633.061(1)(a)4.(d) |
| 1679 | or (2)(a)2.(b) performing work authorized by such license. |
| 1680 | Section 27. Paragraph (d) of subsection (1) of section |
| 1681 | 590.02, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 1682 | 590.02 Division powers, authority, and duties; liability; |
| 1683 | building structures; Florida Center for Wildfire and Forest |
| 1684 | Resources Management Training.- |
| 1685 | (1) The division has the following powers, authority, and |
| 1686 | duties: |
| 1687 | (d) To appoint center managers, forest area supervisors, |
| 1688 | forestry program administrators, a forest protection bureau |
| 1689 | chief, a forest protection assistant bureau chief, a field |
| 1690 | operations bureau chief, deputy chiefs of field operations, |
| 1691 | district managers, senior forest rangers, investigators, forest |
| 1692 | rangers, firefighter rotorcraft pilots, and other employees who |
| 1693 | may, at the division's discretion, be certified as forestry |
| 1694 | firefighters pursuant to s. 633.35(5)(4). Other provisions of |
| 1695 | law notwithstanding, center managers, district managers, forest |
| 1696 | protection assistant bureau chief, and deputy chiefs of field |
| 1697 | operations shall have Selected Exempt Service status in the |
| 1698 | state personnel designation; |
| 1699 | Section 28. Subsection (8) of section 1013.12, Florida |
| 1700 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 1701 | 1013.12 Casualty, safety, sanitation, and firesafety |
| 1702 | standards and inspection of property.- |
| 1703 | (8) ANNUAL REPORT.-The State Fire Marshal shall publish an |
| 1704 | annual report to be filed with the substantive committees of the |
| 1705 | state House of Representatives and Senate having jurisdiction |
| 1706 | over education, the Commissioner of Education or his or her |
| 1707 | successor, the State Board of Education, the Board of Governors, |
| 1708 | and the Governor documenting the status of each board's |
| 1709 | firesafety program, including the improvement or lack thereof. |
| 1710 | Section 29. This act shall take effect July 1, 2010. |