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By DALLAS THIESEN

The 2024 Florida Legislative Session kicked off on January 9, 2024, and will run for 60 consecutive days ending on March 8, 2024.  

The 2024 Legislature Session is well underway, and bills are beginning to move. FSPA is pushing forward hard with SB 922 and HB 525, which will clarify the scopes of work for swimming pool and spa contractors in Florida. SB 922 and HB 525 are long overdue updates to the swimming pool and spa contractor scopes of work that will bring much needed clarification without adding or removing any existing elements. 

FSPA is also engaging with several bills that will update the limitations of Florida’s Homeowner Construction Recovery fund. The fund was put in place 31 years ago to be a last resort for Florida homeowners who have been financially damaged by contractors. A small portion of every building permit fee in the State of Florida pays in to the fund and Florida homeowners can apply to be compensated from the fund when they cannot be fully compensated by a contractor that caused them financial damage. Recovery from the fund is currently capped for clients of Division II contractors at $15,000 per claim and a lifetime aggregate cap of $150,000 per contractor.  

There are several bills that are proposing to raise the per claim and aggregate caps, FSPA is working with bill authors to support these efforts. 

If you have any questions about any bills, please contact FSPA Sr. Director of Government Affairs Dallas Thiesen at Dallas@FloridaPoolPro.com 

View the full Week 3-4 update on YouTube.

 

FSPA Bills 

SB 922 / HB 525 Swimming Pool Contractor Scope of Work  

SB 922 by Sen. Perry / HB 525 by Rep. Smith 

SUMMARY: Makes clarifying revisions to the swimming pool and spa contractor scope of work definitions found in F.S. Sec. 489.105(3)(j),(k),(l), codifies swimming pool and spa contractor’s electrical scope of work.  Increases the construction recovery fund cap for swimming pool contractors to $50,000 per claim and $500,000 life-time cap.  

STATUS:
SB 922: Introduced 

HB 525: Regulatory Reform & Economic Development Subcommittee 

 

Construction Industry Bills  

SB 1778 / HB 1563 Escrow Accounts for Improvements to Real Property 

SB 1778 by Sen. Collins / HB 1563 by Rep. Grant 

SUMMARY: Requires contractors and qualified companies to place  payments received from clients of $10,000 or greater for payment of  subcontractors and purchase of materials into an escrow account. The contractor may bill against the client funds and withdraw the client funds as necessary. This requirement may be waived by the client via contract.  

STATUS:
SB 1778: Introduced 

HB 1563: Passed Regulatory Reform & Economic Development Subcommittee 1/24/2024 

 

 

SB 382 / HB 497 Continuing Education Requirements 

SB 382 by Sen. Hopper / HB 497 by Rep. Melo 

SUMMARY: Requires State of Florida licensing boards to approve distance learning for continuing education.  Requires State of Florida licensing boards to exempt individuals from continuing education requirements when the license holder has held the license in good standing for 10 years. The continuing education does not apply to contractors, engineers, architects, accountants, interior designers, or medical professions.  

STATUS:
SB 382: Rules Committee 

HB 497: 1st Reading (Original Filed Version) 

 

SB 1544 / HB 1335 Department of Business & Professional Regulation 

SB 1544 by Sen. Hopper / HB 1335 by Rep. Maggard  

SUMMARY: DBPR Department bill. Raises Division II Homeowner’s  Construction Recovery Fund cap to $30,000 per claim and $600,000 aggregate.  

STATUS:
SB 1544: Introduced. 

HB 1335: On Regulatory Reform & Economic Development Subcommittee agenda  

 

SB 414 / HB 1217 Homeowner’s Construction Recovery Fund 

SB 414 by Sen. Garcia / HB 1217 by Rep. Daniels 

SUMMARY: Raises the recovery cap for Division I Contractors annually to  $250,000 per claim by fiscal year 2027/2028. Raises the recovery cap for Divion II Contractors annually to $65,000 per claim by fiscal year 2027/2028. Raises the aggregate cap for Division I Contractors annually to $1,000,000 by fiscal year 2027/2028. Raises the aggregate cap for Divion II Contractors annually to $550,000 by fiscal year 2027/2028. 

STATUS:
SB 414: On Regulated Industries Committee Agenda 1/29/2024 (postponed) 

HB 1217: Regulatory Reform & Economic Development Subcommittee 

 

SB 1142 / HB 1579 Occupational Licensing 

SB 1142 by Sen. Hopper / HB 1335 by Rep. Mooney 

SUMMARY: Requires the CILB to issue a registration as a contractor under F.S. 489.105(3)(a)-(o) for a specific county where:

  1. The Applicant was issued certificate or registration in any Florida County in 2021, 2022, or 2023.
  2. The specified County does not issue registration for the requested license. 

STATUS:
SB 1142: Passed Regulated Industries Committee 1/22/2024 

HB 1579: On Regulatory Reform & Economic Development Subcommittee agenda 

 

SB 612 / HB 481 Building Construction Regulation and System Warranties 

SB 612 by Sen. Hopper / HB 481 by Rep. Maggard 

SUMMARY: Allows HVAC and Mechanical contractors to repair and place electrical disconnects installed within HVAC units. Prohibits HVAC  manufactures from conditioning warranties upon registration of the product.  

STATUS:
SB 612: Passed Community Affairs Committee 1/29/2024 

HB 481: Passed Judiciary Committee 1/30/2024. On Second Reading Calendar now. 

 

SB 1012 / HB 751 Disqualification of Licensure  

SB 1012 by Sen. Calatayud / HB 751 by Rep. Hunschofsky 

SUMMARY: Allows a person with a prior conviction to petition a State licensing agency or board for as to whether the person’s prior conviction for a crime would disqualify him or her from obtaining a license, permit, or certification. The  decision of the agency or board is binding on the agency or board on any later ruling on the persons application for licensure, permit, or certification. Requires licensing boards to maintain public records of licensure application denials based on a prior conviction.  

STATUS:
SB 1012: Passed as Amended by Regulated Industries  Committee 01/23/2024 

HB 751: Passed as Amended by Regulatory Reform &  Economic Development Subcommittee 1/22/2024 

 

SB 44 Public Restroom Requirements  

SB 44 by Sen. Stewart 

SUMMARY: Requires public restrooms built or renovated after July 1, 2024 to provide a hook that is accessible when sitting on the toilet seat in wheelchair accessible toilet compartment or a single-user toilet room.   

STATUS:
SB 44: Passed Community Affairs Committee 1/16/2024 

 

Water Safety Bills 

SB 274 / HB 123 Child Water Safety Requirements 

SB 274 by Sen. Rodriguez / HB 123 by Rep. Chambliss 

SUMMARY: Requires childcare facilities to have parents or guardians attest in writing if their children can swim are at a particular risk when around bodies of water. Requires childcare facility to provide U.S. Coast Guard approved life jackets for children who cannot swim or are at risk around water when at a pool or other body of water when under the care of the childcare facility. Exempts swim schools from this requirement.  

STATUS:
SB 274: Passed Health Policy Committee 1/30/2024 

HB 123: 1st Reading (Original Filed Version) 

 

SB 428 / HB 445 Water Safety Education 

SB 448 by Sen. Rodrigues / HB 445 by Rep. Robinson 

SUMMARY: Adds classroom water safety education to the K-12 education curriculum with age-appropriate instruction on the importance of formal  swimming lessons, proper use of flotation devices, awareness of water  conditions, the proper supervision of swimming areas, etc.  

STATUS:
SB 428: Introduced 

HB 445: 1st Reading (Original Filed Version) 

 

SB 544 / HB 581 Swimming Lesson Voucher Program 

SB 544 by Sen. Hutson / HB 581 by Rep. Busatta Cabrera 

SUMMARY: Creates a swimming lesson voucher program via the Florida Department of Health. Requires the department to establish contractual  relationships with at least one swimming pool lesson provider in each Florida County. Appropriates $500,000 for the program.  

STATUS: SB 544: Passed Appropriations Committee 1/24/2024. On Fiscal Policy Committee Agenda 1/31/2024 

HB 581: Passed as Amended by Healthcare Regulation Subcommittee 1/24/2024 

 

SB 706 / HB 719 Residential Swimming Pool Requirements 

SB 706 by Sen. Rodrigues / HB 719 by Rep. López 

SUMMARY: Would require all homes with a swimming pool to meet the  requirements of the residential swimming pool safety act when transferred or sold and require that all properties comply with the barrier requirements of the residential swimming pool safety act when transferred or sold. Takes effect on Oct. 1, 2024.  

STATUS:
SB 544: Introduced 

HB 581: 1st Reading (Original Filed Version) 

 

HB 1207 Vacation Rentals with Swimming Pools 

HB 1207 by Rep. López J.  

SUMMARY: Would require vacation rental owners to provide information to guests on drowning prevention/Water safety, the responsibilities of using the swimming pool, provide a lifebuoy, and post depth markers on the edge of the pool. Prescribes sign language to be posted at the pool.  

STATUS: HB 1207: Regulatory Reform & Economic Development  Subcommittee 

 

SB 1538 Water Safety  

SB 1538 by Sen. Torres 

SUMMARY: Requires Florida State Parks to provide lifeguards during holidays and historically heavy usage periods.  

STATUS:
SB 1538: Introduced 

1 LICENSE PLATE = 1 CHILD IN A SWIM LESSON

Saving lives, one license plate at a time.

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