The Florida Senate

235.061  Standards for relocatables used as classroom space; inspections.--

(1)  The Commissioner of Education shall adopt rules establishing standards for relocatables intended for long-term use as classroom space at a public elementary school, middle school, or high school. "Long-term use" means the use of relocatables at the same educational plant for a period of 4 years or more. These rules must be implemented by July 1, 1998, and each relocatable acquired by a district school board after the effective date of the rules and intended for long-term use must comply with the standards. The rules shall require that, by July 1, 2001, relocatables that fail to meet the standards may not be used as classrooms. The standards shall protect the health, safety, and welfare of occupants by requiring compliance with the Uniform Building Code for Public Educational Facilities or other locally adopted state minimum building codes to ensure the safety and stability of construction and onsite installation; fire and moisture protection; air quality and ventilation; appropriate wind resistance; and compliance with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. If appropriate, the standards must also require relocatables to provide access to the same technologies available to similar classrooms within the main school facility and, if appropriate, to be accessible by adequate covered walkways. By July 1, 2000, the commissioner shall adopt standards for all relocatables intended for long-term use as classrooms. A relocatable that is subject to this section and does not meet the standards shall not be reported as providing satisfactory student stations in the Florida Inventory of School Houses.

(2)  Annual inspections for all satisfactory relocatables designed for classroom use or being occupied by students are required for: foundations; tie-downs; structural integrity; weatherproofing; HVAC; electrical; plumbing, if applicable; firesafety; and accessibility. Reports shall be filed with the district school board and posted in each respective relocatable in order to facilitate corrective action.

History.--s. 27, ch. 97-384; s. 13, ch. 99-329.