The Florida Senate

373.323  Licensure of water well contractors; application, qualifications, and examinations; equipment identification.--

(1)  Every person who wishes to engage in business as a water well contractor shall obtain from the water management district a license to conduct such business.

(2)  Each person desiring to be licensed as a water well contractor shall apply to take the licensure examination. Application shall be made to the water management district in which the applicant resides or in which his or her principal place of business is located. A resident of another state shall apply to the water management district in which most of the business of the applicant will take place. Application shall be made on forms provided by the water management district.

(3)  An applicant who meets the following requirements shall be entitled to take the licensure examination to practice water well contracting:

(a)  Is at least 18 years of age.

(b)  Has at least 2 years of experience in constructing, repairing, or abandoning wells.

(c)  Has completed the application form and remitted a nonrefundable application fee.

(4)  The department shall prepare an examination which shall test an applicant's knowledge of rules and regulations adopted under this part; ability to construct, repair, and abandon a well; and ability to supervise, direct, manage, and control the contracting activities of a water well contracting business. The department shall provide each water management district and representatives of the water well contracting industry with meaningful opportunity to participate in the development of the examination.

(5)  The water management district shall issue a water well contracting license to any applicant who receives a passing grade on the examination, has paid the initial application fee, and has complied with the requirements of this section. A passing grade on the examination shall be as established by the department by rule. A license issued by any water management district shall be valid in every water management district in the state.

(6)  An employee of a political subdivision or of a governmental entity engaged in water well drilling shall be licensed pursuant to this part but shall be exempt from paying fees required pursuant to this part.

(7)  When a water management district has probable cause to believe that any person not licensed as a water well contractor has violated any provision of this part or any statute that relates to the construction, repair, or abandonment of water wells, or any rule adopted pursuant thereto, the water management district may issue and deliver to such person a notice to cease and desist from such violation. In addition, the water management district may issue and deliver a notice to cease and desist to any person who aids and abets the unlicensed construction, repair, or abandonment of a water well by employing an unlicensed person. For the purpose of enforcing a cease and desist order, a water management district may file a proceeding in the name of the state seeking issuance of an injunction or a writ of mandamus against any person who violates any provision of such order.

(8)  The department shall adopt rules which specifically provide for uniformity among all water management districts for the application process and qualifications for licensure, providing each water management district and representatives of the water well contracting industry with meaningful opportunity to participate in the development of the rules as they are drafted. The rules shall be adopted by each water management district.

(9)  Each piece of drilling equipment owned, leased, or operated by a water well contractor shall have the water well contractor's license number prominently displayed thereon.

History.--s. 7, part III, ch. 72-299; s. 114, ch. 77-104; s. 14, ch. 78-95; s. 77, ch. 83-310; s. 1, ch. 84-94; ss. 12, 23, 24, ch. 88-242; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 602, ch. 95-148.