Florida Senate - 2015                             CS for SB 1130
       
       
        
       By the Committee on Banking and Insurance; and Senator Simmons
       
       
       
       
       
       597-02121-15                                          20151130c1
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to windstorm premium discounts;
    3         amending s. 627.711, F.S.; providing that an insurer
    4         issuing a policy to a new policyholder may accept as
    5         valid only specified uniform mitigation verification
    6         inspection forms; providing that such requirement does
    7         not apply to certain new policies removed from
    8         Citizens Property Insurance Corporation; providing an
    9         effective date.
   10          
   11  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   12  
   13         Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
   14  627.711, Florida Statutes, is amended, and paragraph (c) is
   15  added to that subsection, to read:
   16         627.711 Notice of premium discounts for hurricane loss
   17  mitigation; uniform mitigation verification inspection form.—
   18         (2)(a) The Financial Services Commission shall develop by
   19  rule a uniform mitigation verification inspection form that
   20  shall be used by all insurers when submitted by policyholders
   21  for the purpose of factoring discounts for wind insurance. In
   22  developing the form, the commission shall seek input from
   23  insurance, construction, and building code representatives.
   24  Further, the commission shall provide guidance as to the length
   25  of time the inspection results are valid. An insurer shall
   26  accept as valid a uniform mitigation verification inspection
   27  form signed by the following authorized mitigation inspectors:
   28         1. A home inspector licensed under s. 468.8314 who has
   29  completed at least 3 hours of hurricane mitigation training
   30  approved by the Construction Industry Licensing Board which
   31  includes hurricane mitigation techniques and compliance with the
   32  uniform mitigation verification inspection form and completion
   33  of a proficiency exam;
   34         2. A building code inspector certified under s. 468.607;
   35         3. A general, building, or residential contractor licensed
   36  under s. 489.111;
   37         4. A professional engineer licensed under s. 471.015;
   38         5. A professional architect licensed under s. 481.213; or
   39         6. Any other individual or entity recognized by the insurer
   40  as possessing the necessary qualifications to properly complete
   41  a uniform mitigation verification inspection form.
   42         (c) An insurer issuing a policy to a new policyholder may
   43  accept as valid only the uniform mitigation verification
   44  inspection form:
   45         1. Most recently adopted by the commission by rule; or
   46         2. Previously adopted by the commission by rule if the form
   47  was completed within 5 years preceding the effective date of the
   48  new policy.
   49  
   50  This paragraph does not apply to a new policy that was removed
   51  from Citizens Property Insurance Corporation through a take-out
   52  or assumption agreement.
   53         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2015.