Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1260
By Senator DiCeglie
18-01155A-26 20261260__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to building inspections during an
3 emergency; amending ss. 252.35 and 252.381, F.S.;
4 conforming provisions to changes made by the act;
5 creating s. 468.634, F.S.; authorizing the Governor to
6 allow individuals to work in specified positions if
7 they meet certain requirements; requiring the Division
8 of Emergency Management and the Department of Business
9 and Professional Regulation to develop certain
10 training; requiring certain local governments to
11 develop certain training; providing an effective date.
12
13 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
14
15 Section 1. Paragraph (n) of subsection (2) of section
16 252.35, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
17 252.35 Emergency management powers; Division of Emergency
18 Management.—
19 (2) The division is responsible for carrying out the
20 provisions of ss. 252.31-252.90. In performing its duties, the
21 division shall:
22 (n) Implement training programs to maintain this state’s
23 status as a national leader in emergency management and improve
24 the ability of state and local emergency management personnel to
25 prepare and implement emergency management plans and programs.
26 This must include a continuous training program for agencies and
27 individuals who will be called on to perform key roles in state
28 and local postdisaster response and recovery efforts and for
29 local government personnel on federal and state postdisaster
30 response and recovery strategies and procedures. The division
31 shall specify requirements for the minimum number of training
32 hours that county or municipal administrators, county or city
33 managers, county or municipal emergency management directors,
34 and county or municipal public works directors or other
35 officials responsible for the construction and maintenance of
36 public infrastructure must complete biennially in addition to
37 the training required pursuant to s. 252.38(1)(b). Such training
38 may be provided by the division or, for county personnel, by a
39 foundation that is a not-for-profit corporation under s.
40 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and has a governing board
41 that includes in its membership county commissioners and
42 professional county staff. If training is provided by a
43 foundation, including the training program required under s.
44 468.634(2), such training must be approved by the division.
45 Section 2. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
46 252.381, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
47 252.381 Information related to natural emergencies;
48 poststorm county and municipal permitting; operations.—
49 (2)(a) Each county and municipality shall develop a
50 poststorm permitting plan to expedite recovery and rebuilding by
51 providing for special building permit and inspection procedures
52 after a hurricane or tropical storm. The plan must, at a
53 minimum:
54 1. Ensure sufficient personnel are prepared and available
55 to expeditiously manage postdisaster building inspection,
56 permitting, and enforcement tasks. The plan must anticipate
57 conditions that would necessitate supplemental personnel for
58 such tasks and address methods for fulfilling such personnel
59 needs, including through mutual aid agreements as authorized in
60 s. 252.40; other arrangements, such as those with private sector
61 contractors; or supplemental state or federal funding. The plan
62 must include training requirements and protocols for
63 supplemental personnel to ensure compliance with local
64 floodplain management requirements that apply within the county
65 or municipality, including the training program required under
66 s. 468.634(3), if applicable.
67 2. Account for multiple or alternate locations where
68 building permit services may be offered in person to the public
69 following a hurricane or tropical storm during regular business
70 hours.
71 3. Specify a protocol to expedite permitting procedures
72 and, if practicable, for the waiver or reduction of applicable
73 fees in accordance with and in addition to the procedures and
74 waivers provided for under s. 553.7922. The plan must identify
75 the types of permits that are frequently requested following a
76 hurricane or tropical storm and methods to expedite the
77 processing of such permits.
78 4. Specify procedures and resources necessary to promote
79 expeditious debris removal following a hurricane or tropical
80 storm.
81 Section 3. Section 468.634, Florida Statutes, is created to
82 read:
83 468.634 Emergency provisions.—
84 (1) Notwithstanding any other law, the Governor may allow a
85 person to act in any of the following positions if such person
86 is qualified for such work in a state that has a mutual aid
87 agreement entered into pursuant to s. 252.40(2) and such person
88 has taken the training program described in subsection (2) and,
89 if applicable, subsection (3):
90 (a) Building code inspector.
91 (b) Building inspector.
92 (c) Coastal construction inspector.
93 (d) Commercial electrical inspector.
94 (e) Electrical inspector.
95 (f) Mechanical inspector.
96 (g) Plumbing inspector.
97 (h) Residential electrical inspector.
98 (i) Residential inspector.
99 (j) Plans examiner.
100 (k) Building plans examiner.
101 (l) Plumbing plans examiner.
102 (m) Mechanical plans examiner.
103 (n) Electrical plans examiner.
104 (2) The Division of Emergency Management and the Department
105 of Business and Professional Regulation shall develop a Florida
106 Building Code training program.
107 (3) A local government with a local amendment to the
108 Florida Building Code shall develop a training program on all
109 local amendments applicable within the jurisdiction of such
110 government.
111 Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.