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 |
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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. |