HB 683

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to electrical contracting; amending s.
3	489.537, F.S.; revising the authority of
4	municipalities and counties to require that certain
5	licensed electricians be present on certain industrial
6	or commercial construction sites; providing an
7	effective date.
8
9	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
10
11	Section 1.  Subsection (3) of section 489.537, Florida
12	Statutes, is amended to read:
13	489.537  Application of this part.-
14	(3)  Nothing in This part does not limit act limits the
15	power of a municipality or county:
16	(a)  To regulate the quality and character of work
17	performed by contractors through a system of permits, fees, and
18	inspections which is designed to secure compliance with, and aid
19	in the implementation of, state and local building laws or to
20	enforce other local laws for the protection of the public health
21	and safety. However, a certified alarm system contractor or
22	certified electrical contractor is not subject to any additional
23	certification or licensure requirements that are not required by
24	this part.
25	(b)  To collect fees for business tax receipts and
26	inspections for engaging in contracting or examination fees from
27	persons who are registered with the local boards pursuant to
28	local examination requirements.
29	(c)  To adopt any system of permits requiring submission to
30	and approval by the municipality or county of plans and
31	specifications for work to be performed by contractors before
32	commencement of the work.
33	(d)  To require one bond for each electrical contractor in
34	an amount not to exceed $5,000, which bond shall be conditioned
35	only upon compliance with the Florida Building Code adopted
36	pursuant to s. 553.73. Any such bond must be equally available
37	to all electrical contractors without regard to the period of
38	time an electrical contractor has been certified or registered
39	and without regard to any financial responsibility requirements.
40	Any such bonds shall be payable to the Governor and filed in
41	each county or municipality in which a building permit is
42	requested. Bond reciprocity shall be granted statewide. All such
43	bonds shall be included in meeting any financial responsibility
44	requirements imposed by any statute or rule.
45	(e)1.  To refuse to issue permits or issue permits with
46	specific conditions to a contractor who has committed multiple
47	violations, when he or she has been disciplined for each of them
48	by the board and when each disciplinary action has involved
49	revocation or suspension of a license, imposition of an
50	administrative fine of at least $1,000, or probation.
51	2.  To issue permits with specific conditions to a
52	contractor who, within the previous 12 months, has had final
53	action taken against him or her, by the department or by a local
54	board or agency which licenses contractors and has reported the
55	action pursuant to paragraph (5)(c), for engaging in the
56	business or acting in the capacity of a contractor without a
57	license.
58	(f)  To require that one licensed electrician electrical
59	journeyman, who possesses a certificate of competency issued by
60	the municipality or county conditioned upon the electrician's
61	passage of a competency examination is a graduate of the
62	Institute of Applied Technology in Construction Excellence or
63	licensed pursuant to s. 489.5335, be present on an industrial or
64	commercial new construction site with a facility of 5,000 50,000
65	gross square feet or more when electrical work in excess of 98
66	77 volts is being performed in order to supervise or perform
67	such work, except as provided in s. 489.503. Local governments
68	may require compliance with this paragraph as part of any
69	construction bid or contract to ensure public safety, control
70	projects cost, and limit additional regulation.
71	Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2012.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.