Florida Senate - 2021                                     SB 360
       
       
        
       By Senator Hooper
       
       
       
       
       
       16-00569-21                                            2021360__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to fire prevention and control;
    3         amending s. 633.202, F.S.; requiring the authority
    4         having jurisdiction to determine certain minimum radio
    5         signal strength requirements for all new and existing
    6         buildings; authorizing the use of radio communication
    7         enhancement systems to comply with minimum radio
    8         signal strength requirements; revising the transitory
    9         period for compliance; revising the date by which
   10         existing apartment buildings that are not in
   11         compliance must initiate an application for an
   12         appropriate permit; amending s. 843.16, F.S.;
   13         providing an exception to the prohibition against
   14         installing or transporting certain radio equipment
   15         using law enforcement or fire rescue frequencies;
   16         providing an effective date.
   17          
   18  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   19  
   20         Section 1. Subsection (18) of section 633.202, Florida
   21  Statutes, is amended to read:
   22         633.202 Florida Fire Prevention Code.—
   23         (18) The authority having jurisdiction shall determine the
   24  minimum radio signal strength for fire department communications
   25  in all new high-rise and existing high-rise buildings. Two-way
   26  radio communication enhancement systems may be used to comply
   27  with minimum radio signal strength requirements. Existing
   28  buildings are not required to comply with minimum radio strength
   29  for fire department communications and two-way radio system
   30  enhancement communications as required by the Florida Fire
   31  Prevention Code until January 1, 2027 2022. However, by December
   32  31, 2024 2019, an existing building that is not in compliance
   33  with the requirements for minimum radio strength for fire
   34  department communications must apply for an appropriate permit
   35  for the required installation with the local government agency
   36  having jurisdiction and must demonstrate that the building will
   37  become compliant by January 1, 2027 2022. Existing apartment
   38  buildings are not required to comply until January 1, 2030 2025.
   39  However, existing apartment buildings are required to apply for
   40  the appropriate permit for the required communications
   41  installation by December 31, 2027 2022.
   42         Section 2. Paragraph (f) is added to subsection (3) of
   43  section 843.16, Florida Statutes, to read:
   44         843.16 Unlawful to install or transport radio equipment
   45  using assigned frequency of state or law enforcement officers;
   46  definitions; exceptions; penalties.—
   47         (3) This section does not apply to the following:
   48         (f) The installation of a two-way radio communication
   49  enhancement system to comply with the requirements of s.
   50  633.202(18).
   51         Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2021.