By Dallas
Thiesen, FSPA Sr. Dir. Of Government Affairs
The 2023 Florida Legislative Session is set to kick off on
Tuesday March 7, 2023 and run for 60 days ending on Friday May 5, 2023.
So far, few bills directly affecting the Florida swimming
pool and spa industry have been filed but that does not mean no action for the
industry this year. FSPA is working on inserting language in to existing bills
to accomplish industry goals. FSPA’s goals in 2023 include:
- · Increasing the State of Florida consumer
construction recovery fund cap for Div. II contractors from $15,000 to $50,000.
The Construction recovery fund is funded by a portion of every building permit
fee in the state and is available to consumers that have been damaged by a
contractor.
- ·
Further clarifying a Florida general contractor’s
scope of work for swimming pools to address issues with general contractors
holding themselves out as swimming pool and spa builders.
- · Clarifying a Florida Swimming Pool and Spa
Contractor’s electrical scope of work in statute.
- · Enhancing local enforcement of unlicensed
contracting throughout the state.
FSPA will also be on keeping watch for potentially destructive
bills seeking to overregulate the swimming pool industry and construction
industry as a whole. The description and status of all bills that FSPA is
tacking are below.
Events
happing this week:
Joint Session of the Florida State Senate and House of
Representatives
Tuesday March 7, 2023
11:00am – Until Completion
WATCH HERE
2023 Bills
to Watch
Child Water
Safety Requirements
SB 74 by Sen. Ana
Maria Rodriguez
Requires childcare
facilities that provide access to swimming pools or bathing places to have the
parents or guardians of children attest in writing whether the child is able to
swim or is at risk of injury or death when swimming. Requires that facilities
provide US Coast Guard Type II or III personal flotation devices for children
unable to swim or at risk of death or injury from swimming when near or
interacting with public bathing places or swimming pools. Swim schools are
exempted from these requirements.
|
SB 74
|
Filed; Referred to Health Policy Committee, Children
Families and Elder Affairs Committee, and Rules Committee.
|
:
Water
Safety
SB 84 by Sen. Ana
Maria Rodriguez
Requiring a state park to have a certified lifeguard on duty
at designated swimming areas within the park during certain timeframes;
requiring the Department of Environmental Protection to install a water rescue
station at each designated swimming area; requiring comprehensive
age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate K-12 instruction on water
safety, etc.
Status:
|
SB 84
|
Filed; Referred to Education Pre-K -12;
Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government;
Fiscal Policy
|
Building
Construction
SB 512 by Sen. Ed
Hooper
HB 89 by Rep. Randal Maggard
Revises definition of term
"class A air-conditioning contractor" to include an expanded
electrical scope of work; prohibits building officials from making substantive
changes to building plans after permit has been issued; provides exceptions;
requires building officials to provide certain information to contractors and
property owners; provides that building officials are subject to disciplinary
action for failure to meet the information requirements.
Status:
|
SB 512
|
Filed; Referred to Community Affairs; Regulated
Industries; Rules
|
|
HB 89
|
Filed; Referred to Regulatory Reform & Economic
Development Subcommittee, Local Administration, Federal Affairs & Special
Districts Subcommittee, Commerce Committee
|
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
SB 1150 by Sen.
Blaise Ingoglia
Revises the definitions of “Category
I liquefied petroleum gas dealer” and “Category V LP gas installer” to include
the design of LP and natural gas systems.
Status: