Florida Senate - 2017                                    SB 1150
       
       
        
       By Senator Artiles
       
       
       
       
       
       40-01428-17                                           20171150__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to the regulation of water damage
    3         restoration; amending s. 468.8411, F.S.; defining the
    4         terms “professional water damage restorer” and “water
    5         damage restoration”; amending s. 468.8414, F.S.;
    6         requiring the Department of Business and Professional
    7         Regulation to license applicants who are qualified to
    8         practice water damage restoration; specifying
    9         qualifications for licensure; providing applicability
   10         of certain prohibitions and penalties to professional
   11         water damage restorers; providing an effective date.
   12          
   13  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   14  
   15         Section 1. Subsections (7) and (8) are added to section
   16  468.8411, Florida Statutes, to read:
   17         468.8411 Definitions.—As used in this part, the term:
   18         (7) “Professional water damage restorer” means any person
   19  who performs water damage restoration.
   20         (8) “Water damage restoration” means water removal,
   21  demolition, dehumidification, or other treatment related to
   22  water damage or water-contaminated matter greater than 10 square
   23  feet.
   24         Section 2. Subsection (1) of section 468.8414, Florida
   25  Statutes, is amended, present subsection (4) of that section is
   26  redesignated as subsection (6), and a new subsection (4) and
   27  subsection (5) are added to that section, to read:
   28         468.8414 Licensure.—
   29         (1) The department shall license any applicant who the
   30  department certifies is qualified to practice mold assessment,
   31  or mold remediation, or water damage restoration.
   32         (4) The department shall certify for licensure as a
   33  professional water damage restorer an applicant who:
   34         (a) Is of good moral character;
   35         (b) Has the insurance coverage required under s. 468.8421;
   36  and
   37         (c) Satisfies the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and
   38  Restoration Certification S500 standards.
   39         (5) The prohibitions and penalties described in s. 468.8419
   40  apply to a professional water damage restorer.
   41         Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2017.