Florida Senate - 2024                          SENATOR AMENDMENT
       Bill No. CS/CS/CS/HB 267, 1st Eng.
       
       
       
       
       
       
                                Ì505102`Î505102                         
       
                              LEGISLATIVE ACTION                        
                    Senate             .             House              
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                Floor: 1/AD/2R         .            Floor: C            
             03/06/2024 06:21 PM       .      03/07/2024 08:37 PM       
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       Senator DiCeglie moved the following:
       
    1         Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
    2  
    3         Delete lines 64 - 496
    4  and insert:
    5         Section 1. Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section
    6  468.609, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
    7         468.609 Administration of this part; standards for
    8  certification; additional categories of certification.—
    9         (2) A person may take the examination for certification as
   10  a building code inspector or plans examiner pursuant to this
   11  part if the person:
   12         (c) Meets eligibility requirements according to one of the
   13  following criteria:
   14         1. Demonstrates 4 years’ combined experience in the field
   15  of construction or a related field, building code inspection, or
   16  plans review corresponding to the certification category sought;
   17         2. Demonstrates a combination of postsecondary education in
   18  the field of construction or a related field and experience
   19  which totals 3 years, with at least 1 year of such total being
   20  experience in construction, building code inspection, or plans
   21  review;
   22         3. Demonstrates a combination of technical education in the
   23  field of construction or a related field and experience which
   24  totals 3 years, with at least 1 year of such total being
   25  experience in construction, building code inspection, or plans
   26  review;
   27         4. Currently holds a standard certificate issued by the
   28  board or a firesafety inspector license issued under chapter
   29  633, with a minimum of 3 years’ verifiable full-time experience
   30  in firesafety inspection or firesafety plan review, and has
   31  satisfactorily completed a building code inspector or plans
   32  examiner training program that provides at least 100 hours but
   33  not more than 200 hours of cross-training in the certification
   34  category sought. The board shall establish by rule criteria for
   35  the development and implementation of the training programs. The
   36  board must accept all classroom training offered by an approved
   37  provider if the content substantially meets the intent of the
   38  classroom component of the training program;
   39         5. Demonstrates a combination of the completion of an
   40  approved training program in the field of building code
   41  inspection or plan review and a minimum of 2 years’ experience
   42  in the field of building code inspection, plan review, fire code
   43  inspections and fire plans review of new buildings as a
   44  firesafety inspector certified under s. 633.216, or
   45  construction. The approved training portion of this requirement
   46  must include proof of satisfactory completion of a training
   47  program that provides at least 200 hours but not more than 300
   48  hours of cross-training that is approved by the board in the
   49  chosen category of building code inspection or plan review in
   50  the certification category sought with at least 20 hours but not
   51  more than 30 hours of instruction in state laws, rules, and
   52  ethics relating to professional standards of practice, duties,
   53  and responsibilities of a certificateholder. The board shall
   54  coordinate with the Building Officials Association of Florida,
   55  Inc., to establish by rule the development and implementation of
   56  the training program. However, the board must accept all
   57  classroom training offered by an approved provider if the
   58  content substantially meets the intent of the classroom
   59  component of the training program;
   60         6. Currently holds a standard certificate issued by the
   61  board or a firesafety inspector license issued under chapter 633
   62  and:
   63         a. Has at least 4 years’ verifiable full-time experience as
   64  an inspector or plans examiner in a standard certification
   65  category currently held or has a minimum of 4 years’ verifiable
   66  full-time experience as a firesafety inspector licensed under
   67  chapter 633.
   68         b. Has satisfactorily completed a building code inspector
   69  or plans examiner classroom training course or program that
   70  provides at least 200 but not more than 300 hours in the
   71  certification category sought, except for residential training
   72  programs, which must provide at least 500 but not more than 800
   73  hours of training as prescribed by the board. The board shall
   74  establish by rule criteria for the development and
   75  implementation of classroom training courses and programs in
   76  each certification category; or
   77         7.a. Has completed a 4-year internship certification
   78  program as a building code inspector or plans examiner,
   79  including an internship program for residential inspectors,
   80  while also employed full-time by a municipality, county, or
   81  other governmental jurisdiction, under the direct supervision of
   82  a certified building official. A person may also complete the
   83  internship certification program, including an internship
   84  program for residential inspectors, while employed full time by
   85  a private provider or a private provider’s firm that performs
   86  the services of a building code inspector or plans examiner,
   87  while under the direct supervision of a certified building
   88  official. Proof of graduation with a related vocational degree
   89  or college degree or of verifiable work experience may be
   90  exchanged for the internship experience requirement year-for
   91  year, but may reduce the requirement to no less than 1 year.
   92         b. Has passed an examination administered by the
   93  International Code Council in the certification category sought.
   94  Such examination must be passed before beginning the internship
   95  certification program.
   96         c. Has passed the principles and practice examination
   97  before completing the internship certification program.
   98         d. Has passed a board-approved 40-hour code training course
   99  in the certification category sought before completing the
  100  internship certification program.
  101         e. Has obtained a favorable recommendation from the
  102  supervising building official after completion of the internship
  103  certification program.
  104         Section 2. Paragraph (g) is added to subsection (7) of
  105  section 553.73, Florida Statutes, to read:
  106         553.73 Florida Building Code.—
  107         (7)
  108         (g) The commission shall modify the Florida Building Code
  109  to state that sealed drawings by a design professional are not
  110  required for the replacement of windows, doors, or garage doors
  111  in an existing one-family or two-family dwelling or townhouse if
  112  all of the following conditions are met:
  113         1.The replacement windows, doors, or garage doors are
  114  installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions for
  115  the appropriate wind zone.
  116         2. The replacement windows, doors, or garage doors meet the
  117  design pressure requirements in the most recent version of the
  118  Florida Building Code, Residential.
  119         3. A copy of the manufacturer’s instructions is submitted
  120  with the permit application in a printed or digital format.
  121         4. The replacement windows, doors, or garage doors are the
  122  same size and are installed in the same opening as the existing
  123  windows, doors, or garage doors.
  124         Section 3. Subsection (16) of section 553.79, Florida
  125  Statutes, is amended to read:
  126         553.79 Permits; applications; issuance; inspections.—
  127         (16)Except as provided in paragraph (e), a building permit
  128  for a single-family residential dwelling must be issued within
  129  30 business days after receiving the permit application unless
  130  the permit application fails to satisfy the Florida Building
  131  Code or the enforcing agency’s laws or ordinances.
  132         (a)If a local enforcement agency fails to issue a building
  133  permit for a single-family residential dwelling within 30
  134  business days after receiving the permit application, it must
  135  reduce the building permit fee by 10 percent for each business
  136  day that it fails to meet the deadline. Each 10-percent
  137  reduction shall be based on the original amount of the building
  138  permit fee.
  139         (b)A local enforcement agency does not have to reduce the
  140  building permit fee if it provides written notice to the
  141  applicant, by e-mail or United States Postal Service, within 30
  142  business days after receiving the permit application, that
  143  specifically states the reasons the permit application fails to
  144  satisfy the Florida Building Code or the enforcing agency’s laws
  145  or ordinances. The written notice must also state that the
  146  applicant has 10 business days after receiving the written
  147  notice to submit revisions to correct the permit application and
  148  that failure to correct the application within 10 business days
  149  will result in a denial of the application.
  150         (c)The applicant has 10 business days after receiving the
  151  written notice to address the reasons specified by the local
  152  enforcement agency and submit revisions to correct the permit
  153  application. If the applicant submits revisions within 10
  154  business days after receiving the written notice, the local
  155  enforcement agency has 10 business days after receiving such
  156  revisions to approve or deny the building permit unless the
  157  applicant agrees to a longer period in writing. If the local
  158  enforcement agency fails to issue or deny the building permit
  159  within 10 business days after receiving the revisions, it must
  160  reduce the building permit fee by 20 percent for the first
  161  business day that it fails to meet the deadline unless the
  162  applicant agrees to a longer period in writing. For each
  163  additional business day, but not to exceed 5 business days, that
  164  the local enforcement agency fails to meet the deadline, the
  165  building permit fee must be reduced by an additional 10 percent.
  166  Each reduction shall be based on the original amount of the
  167  building permit fee.
  168         (d)If any building permit fees are refunded under this
  169  subsection, the surcharges provided in s. 468.631 or s. 553.721
  170  must be recalculated based on the amount of the building permit
  171  fees after the refund.
  172         (e)A building permit for a single-family residential
  173  dwelling applied for by a contractor licensed in this state on
  174  behalf of a property owner who participates in a Community
  175  Development Block Grant–Disaster Recovery program administered
  176  by the Department of Economic Opportunity must be issued within
  177  15 working days after receipt of the application unless the
  178  permit application fails to satisfy the Florida Building Code or
  179  the enforcing agency’s laws or ordinances.
  180         Section 4. Present paragraphs (o) through (r) of subsection
  181  (1) and subsections (10) through (21) of section 553.791,
  182  Florida Statutes, are redesignated as paragraphs (p) through (s)
  183  and subsections (11) through (22), respectively, a new paragraph
  184  (o) is added to subsection (1) and a new subsection (10) is
  185  added to that section, and present paragraph (o) of subsection
  186  (1), paragraph (c) of subsection (4), paragraphs (b) and (d) of
  187  subsection (7), subsection (9), paragraph (b) of present
  188  subsection (13), paragraph (b) of present subsection (16), and
  189  present subsection (19) are amended, to read:
  190         553.791 Alternative plans review and inspection.—
  191         (1) As used in this section, the term:
  192         (o) “Private provider firm” means a business organization,
  193  including a corporation, partnership, business trust, or other
  194  legal entity, which offers services under this chapter to the
  195  public through licensees who are acting as agents, employees,
  196  officers, or partners of the firm. A person who is licensed as a
  197  building code administrator under part XII of chapter 468, an
  198  engineer under chapter 471, or an architect under chapter 481
  199  may act as a private provider for an agent, employee, or officer
  200  of the private provider firm.
  201         (p)(o) “Request for certificate of occupancy or certificate
  202  of completion” means a properly completed and executed
  203  application for:
  204         1. A certificate of occupancy or certificate of completion.
  205         2. A certificate of compliance from the private provider
  206  required under subsection (13) (12).
  207         3. Any applicable fees.
  208         4. Any documents required by the local building official to
  209  determine that the fee owner has secured all other government
  210  approvals required by law.
  211         (4) A fee owner or the fee owner’s contractor using a
  212  private provider to provide building code inspection services
  213  shall notify the local building official in writing at the time
  214  of permit application, or by 2 p.m. local time, 2 business days
  215  before the first scheduled inspection by the local building
  216  official or building code enforcement agency that a private
  217  provider has been contracted to perform the required inspections
  218  of construction under this section, including single-trade
  219  inspections, on a form to be adopted by the commission. This
  220  notice shall include the following information:
  221         (c) An acknowledgment from the fee owner or the fee owner’s
  222  contractor in substantially the following form:
  223  
  224         I have elected to use one or more private providers to
  225         provide building code plans review and/or inspection
  226         services on the building or structure that is the
  227         subject of the enclosed permit application, as
  228         authorized by s. 553.791, Florida Statutes. I
  229         understand that the local building official may not
  230         review the plans submitted or perform the required
  231         building inspections to determine compliance with the
  232         applicable codes, except to the extent specified in
  233         said law. Instead, plans review and/or required
  234         building inspections will be performed by licensed or
  235         certified personnel identified in the application. The
  236         law requires minimum insurance requirements for such
  237         personnel, but I understand that I may require more
  238         insurance to protect my interests. By executing this
  239         form, I acknowledge that I have made inquiry regarding
  240         the competence of the licensed or certified personnel
  241         and the level of their insurance and am satisfied that
  242         my interests are adequately protected. I agree to
  243         indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the local
  244         government, the local building official, and their
  245         building code enforcement personnel from any and all
  246         claims arising from my use of these licensed or
  247         certified personnel to perform building code
  248         inspection services with respect to the building or
  249         structure that is the subject of the enclosed permit
  250         application.
  251  
  252  If the fee owner or the fee owner’s contractor makes any changes
  253  to the listed private providers or the services to be provided
  254  by those private providers, the fee owner or the fee owner’s
  255  contractor shall, within 1 business day after any change or
  256  within 2 business days before the next scheduled inspection,
  257  update the notice to reflect such changes. A change of a duly
  258  authorized representative named in the permit application does
  259  not require a revision of the permit, and the building code
  260  enforcement agency shall not charge a fee for making the change.
  261         (7)
  262         (b) If the local building official provides a written
  263  notice of plan deficiencies to the permit applicant within the
  264  prescribed 20-day period, the 20-day period shall be tolled
  265  pending resolution of the matter. To resolve the plan
  266  deficiencies, the permit applicant may elect to dispute the
  267  deficiencies pursuant to subsection (15) (14) or to submit
  268  revisions to correct the deficiencies.
  269         (d) If the local building official provides a second
  270  written notice of plan deficiencies to the permit applicant
  271  within the prescribed time period, the permit applicant may
  272  elect to dispute the deficiencies pursuant to subsection (15)
  273  (14) or to submit additional revisions to correct the
  274  deficiencies. For all revisions submitted after the first
  275  revision, the local building official has an additional 5
  276  business days from the date of resubmittal to issue the
  277  requested permit or to provide a written notice to the permit
  278  applicant stating which of the previously identified plan
  279  features remain in noncompliance with the applicable codes, with
  280  specific reference to the relevant code chapters and sections.
  281         (9) A private provider performing required inspections
  282  under this section shall provide notice to the local building
  283  official of the approximate date and approximate time of any
  284  such inspection no later than the prior business day by 2 p.m.
  285  local time or by any later time permitted by the local building
  286  official in that jurisdiction. The local building official may
  287  not prohibit the private provider from performing any inspection
  288  outside the local building official’s normal operating hours,
  289  including after hours, weekends, or holidays. The local building
  290  official may visit the building site as often as necessary to
  291  verify that the private provider is performing all required
  292  inspections. A deficiency notice must be posted by the private
  293  provider, the duly authorized representative of the private
  294  provider, or the building department whenever a noncomplying
  295  item related to the building code or the permitted documents is
  296  found. Such notice may be physically posted at the job site or
  297  electronically posted. After corrections are made, the item must
  298  be reinspected by the private provider or representative before
  299  being concealed. Reinspection or reaudit fees shall not be
  300  charged by the local jurisdiction as a result of the local
  301  jurisdiction’s audit inspection occurring before the performance
  302  of the private provider’s inspection or for any other
  303  administrative matter not involving the detection of a violation
  304  of the building code or a permit requirement.
  305         (10) If the private provider is a person licensed as an
  306  engineer under chapter 471 or an architect under chapter 481 and
  307  affixes his or her professional seal to the affidavit required
  308  under subsection (6), the local building official must issue the
  309  requested permit or provide a written notice to the permit
  310  applicant identifying the specific plan features that do not
  311  comply with the applicable codes, as well as the specific code
  312  chapters and sections, within 10 business days after receipt of
  313  the permit application and affidavit. In such written notice,
  314  the local building official must provide with specificity the
  315  plan’s deficiencies, the reasons the permit application failed,
  316  and the applicable codes being violated. If the local building
  317  official does not provide specific written notice to the permit
  318  applicant within the prescribed 10-day period, the permit
  319  application is deemed approved as a matter of law, and the local
  320  building official must issue the permit on the next business
  321  day.
  322         (14)(13)
  323         (b) If the local building official does not provide notice
  324  of the deficiencies within the applicable time periods under
  325  paragraph (a), the request for a certificate of occupancy or
  326  certificate of completion is automatically granted and deemed
  327  issued as of the next business day. The local building official
  328  must provide the applicant with the written certificate of
  329  occupancy or certificate of completion within 10 days after it
  330  is automatically granted and issued. To resolve any identified
  331  deficiencies, the applicant may elect to dispute the
  332  deficiencies pursuant to subsection (15) (14) or to submit a
  333  corrected request for a certificate of occupancy or certificate
  334  of completion.
  335         (17)(16)
  336         (b) A local enforcement agency, local building official, or
  337  local government may establish, for private providers, private
  338  provider firms, and duly authorized representatives working
  339  within that jurisdiction, a system of registration to verify
  340  compliance with the licensure requirements of paragraph (1)(n)
  341  and the insurance requirements of subsection (18) (17).
  342         (20)(19)A Each local building code enforcement agency may
  343  not audit the performance of building code inspection services
  344  by private providers operating within the local jurisdiction
  345  until the agency has created standard operating private provider
  346  audit procedures for the agency’s internal inspection and review
  347  staff, which includes, at a minimum, the private provider audit
  348  purpose and scope, private provider audit criteria, an
  349  explanation of private provider audit processes and objections,
  350  and detailed findings of areas of noncompliance. Such private
  351  provider audit procedures must be publicly available online and
  352  a printed version must be readily accessible in agency
  353  buildings. The private provider audit results of staff for the
  354  prior two quarters also must be publicly available. The agency’s
  355  audit processes must adhere to the agency’s posted standard
  356  operating audit procedures. However, The same private provider
  357  or private provider firm may not be audited more than four times
  358  in a year month unless the local building official determines a
  359  condition of a building constitutes an immediate threat to
  360  public safety and welfare, which must be communicated in writing
  361  to the private provider or private provider firm. Work on a
  362  building or structure may proceed after inspection and approval
  363  by a private provider. if the provider has given notice of the
  364  inspection pursuant to subsection (9) and, subsequent to such
  365  inspection and approval, The work may shall not be delayed for
  366  completion of an inspection audit by the local building code
  367  enforcement agency.
  368         Section 5. Subsections (1) and (2) of section 553.792,
  369  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  370         553.792 Building permit application to local government.—
  371         (1)(a) A local government must approve, approve with
  372  conditions, or deny a building permit application after receipt
  373  of a completed and sufficient application within the following
  374  timeframes, unless the applicant waives such timeframes in
  375  writing:
  376         1. Within 30 business days after receiving a complete and
  377  sufficient application, for an applicant using a local
  378  government plans reviewer to obtain the following building
  379  permits if the structure is less than 7,500 square feet:
  380  residential units, including a single-family residential unit or
  381  a single-family residential dwelling, accessory structure,
  382  alarm, electrical, irrigation, landscaping, mechanical,
  383  plumbing, or roofing.
  384         2. Within 60 business days after receiving a complete and
  385  sufficient application, for an applicant using a local
  386  government plans reviewer to obtain the following building
  387  permits if the structure is 7,500 square feet or more:
  388  residential units, including a single-family residential unit or
  389  a single-family residential dwelling, accessory structure,
  390  alarm, electrical, irrigation, landscaping, mechanical,
  391  plumbing, or roofing.
  392         3. Within 60 business days after receiving a complete and
  393  sufficient application, for an applicant using a local
  394  government plans reviewer to obtain the following building
  395  permits: signs or nonresidential buildings that are less than
  396  25,000 square feet.
  397         4. Within 60 business days after receiving a complete and
  398  sufficient application, for an applicant using a local
  399  government plans reviewer to obtain the following building
  400  permits: multifamily residential, not exceeding 50 units; site
  401  plan approvals and subdivision plats not requiring public
  402  hearing or public notice; and lot grading and site alteration.
  403         5. Within 12 business days after receiving a complete and
  404  sufficient application, for an applicant using a master building
  405  permit consistent with s. 553.794 to obtain a site-specific
  406  building permit.
  407         6. Within 10 business days after receiving a complete and
  408  sufficient application, for an applicant for a single-family
  409  residential dwelling applied for by a contractor licensed in
  410  this state on behalf of a property owner who participates in a
  411  Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery program
  412  administered by the Department of Commerce, unless the permit
  413  application fails to satisfy the Florida Building Code or the
  414  enforcing agency’s laws or ordinances.
  415  
  416  However, the local government may not require the waiver of the
  417  timeframes in this section as a condition precedent to reviewing
  418  an applicant’s building permit application.
  419         (b) A local government must meet the timeframes set forth
  420  in this section for reviewing building permit applications
  421  unless the timeframes set by local ordinance are more stringent
  422  than those prescribed in this section.
  423         (c) After Within 10 days of an applicant submits submitting
  424  an application to the local government, the local government
  425  must provide written notice to the applicant within 5 business
  426  days after receipt of the application advising shall advise the
  427  applicant what information, if any, is needed to deem or
  428  determine that the application is properly completed in
  429  compliance with the filing requirements published by the local
  430  government. If the local government does not provide timely
  431  written notice that the applicant has not submitted the properly
  432  completed application, the application is shall be automatically
  433  deemed or determined to be properly completed and accepted.
  434  Within 45 days after receiving a completed application, a local
  435  government must notify an applicant if additional information is
  436  required for the local government to determine the sufficiency
  437  of the application, and shall specify the additional information
  438  that is required. The applicant must submit the additional
  439  information to the local government or request that the local
  440  government act without the additional information. While the
  441  applicant responds to the request for additional information,
  442  the 120-day period described in this subsection is tolled. Both
  443  parties may agree to a reasonable request for an extension of
  444  time, particularly in the event of a force majeure or other
  445  extraordinary circumstance. The local government must approve,
  446  approve with conditions, or deny the application within 120 days
  447  following receipt of a completed application.
  448         (d) A local government shall maintain on its website a
  449  policy containing procedures and expectations for expedited
  450  processing of those building permits and development orders
  451  required by law to be expedited.
  452         (b)1. When reviewing an application for a building permit,
  453  a local government may not request additional information from
  454  the applicant more than three times, unless the applicant waives
  455  such limitation in writing.
  456         2. If a local government requests additional information
  457  from an applicant and the applicant submits the requested
  458  additional information to the local government within 30 days
  459  after receiving the request, the local government must, within
  460  15 days after receiving such information:
  461         a. Determine if the application is properly completed;
  462         b. Approve the application;
  463         c. Approve the application with conditions;
  464         d. Deny the application; or
  465         e. Advise the applicant of information, if any, that is
  466  needed to deem the application properly completed or to
  467  determine the sufficiency of the application.
  468         3. If a local government makes a second request for
  469  additional information from the applicant and the applicant
  470  submits the requested additional information to the local
  471  government within 30 days after receiving the request, the local
  472  government must, within 10 days after receiving such
  473  information:
  474         a. Determine if the application is properly completed;
  475         b. Approve the application;
  476         c. Approve the application with conditions;
  477         d. Deny the application; or
  478         e. Advise the applicant of information, if any, that is
  479  needed to deem the application properly completed or to
  480  determine the sufficiency of the application.
  481         4. Before a third request for additional information may be
  482  made, the applicant must be offered an opportunity to meet with
  483  the local government to attempt to resolve outstanding issues.
  484  If a local government makes a third request for additional
  485  information from the applicant and the applicant submits the
  486  requested additional information to the local government within
  487  30 days after receiving the request, the local government must,
  488  within 10 days after receiving such information unless the
  489  applicant waived the local government’s limitation in writing,
  490  determine that the application is complete and:
  491         a. Approve the application;
  492         b. Approve the application with conditions; or
  493         c. Deny the application.
  494         5. If the applicant believes the request for additional
  495  information is not authorized by ordinance, rule, statute, or
  496  other legal authority, the local government, at the applicant’s
  497  request, must process the application and either approve the
  498  application, approve the application with conditions, or deny
  499  the application.
  500         (e)(c) If a local government fails to meet a deadline under
  501  this subsection provided in paragraphs (a) and (b), it must
  502  reduce the building permit fee by 10 percent for each business
  503  day that it fails to meet the deadline, unless the parties agree
  504  in writing to a reasonable extension of time, the delay is
  505  caused by the applicant, or the delay is attributable to a force
  506  majeure or other extraordinary circumstances. Each 10-percent
  507  reduction shall be based on the original amount of the building
  508  permit fee, unless the parties agree to an extension of time.
  509         (f) A local enforcement agency does not have to reduce the
  510  building permit fee if it provides written notice to the
  511  applicant by e-mail or United States Postal Service within the
  512  respective timeframes in paragraph (a) which specifically states
  513  the reasons the permit application fails to satisfy the Florida
  514  Building Code or the enforcing agency’s laws or ordinances. The
  515  written notice must also state that the applicant has 10
  516  business days after receiving the written notice to submit
  517  revisions to correct the permit application and that failure to
  518  correct the application within 10 business days will result in a
  519  denial of the application.
  520         (g) If the applicant submits revisions within 10 business
  521  days after receiving the written notice, the local enforcement
  522  agency has 10 business days after receiving such revisions to
  523  approve or deny the building permit unless the applicant agrees
  524  to a longer period in writing. If the local enforcement agency
  525  fails to issue or deny the building permit within 10 business
  526  days after receiving the revisions, it must reduce the building
  527  permit fee by 20 percent for each business day that it fails to
  528  meet the deadline unless the applicant agrees to a longer period
  529  in writing.
  530         (2)(a) The procedures set forth in subsection (1) apply to
  531  the following building permit applications: accessory structure;
  532  alarm permit; nonresidential buildings less than 25,000 square
  533  feet; electric; irrigation permit; landscaping; mechanical;
  534  plumbing; residential units other than a single family unit;
  535  multifamily residential not exceeding 50 units; roofing; signs;
  536  site-plan approvals and subdivision plats not requiring public
  537  hearings or public notice; and lot grading and site alteration
  538  associated with the permit application set forth in this
  539  subsection. The procedures set forth in subsection (1) do not
  540  apply to permits for any wireless communications facilities or
  541  when a law, agency rule, or local ordinance specify different
  542  timeframes for review of local building permit applications.
  543         (b) If a local government has different timeframes than the
  544  timeframes set forth in subsection (1) for reviewing building
  545  permit applications described in paragraph (a), the local
  546  government must meet the deadlines established by local
  547  ordinance. If a local government does not meet an established
  548  deadline to approve, approve with conditions, or deny an
  549  application, it must reduce the building permit fee by 10
  550  percent for each business day that it fails to meet the
  551  deadline. Each 10-percent reduction shall be based on the
  552  original amount of the building permit fee, unless the parties
  553  agree to an extension of time. This paragraph does not apply to
  554  permits for any wireless communications facilities.
  555  
  556  ================= T I T L E  A M E N D M E N T ================
  557  And the title is amended as follows:
  558         Delete lines 3 - 49
  559  and insert:
  560         468.609, F.S.; revising the eligibility requirements a
  561         person must meet to take an examination for
  562         certification as a building code inspector or plans
  563         examiner; amending s. 553.73, F.S.; requiring the
  564         Florida Building Commission to modify provisions in
  565         the Florida Building Code relating to sealed drawings
  566         by a design professional for replacement windows,
  567         doors, or garage doors on certain dwellings or
  568         townhouses; providing requirements for such
  569         modifications; amending s. 553.79, F.S.; removing
  570         provisions relating to acquiring building permits for
  571         certain residential dwellings; amending s. 553.791,
  572         F.S.; defining the term “private provider firm”;
  573         amending provisions requiring private providers to
  574         provide specified notice to the local building
  575         official; revising the timeframes in which local
  576         building officials must issue permits or provide
  577         certain written notice if certain private providers
  578         affix their professional seal to an affidavit;
  579         providing requirements for such written notices;
  580         deeming a permit application approved under certain
  581         circumstances; prohibiting a local building code
  582         enforcement agency from auditing the performance of
  583         private providers until the local building code
  584         enforcement agency creates standard operating private
  585         provider audit procedures; providing requirements for
  586         such audit procedures; requiring the audit procedures
  587         to be publicly available online and printed; requiring
  588         printed audit procedures to be available in the
  589         agency’s buildings; requiring that private provider
  590         audit results of staff for a specified timeframe be
  591         made publicly available; requiring the agency’s audit
  592         processes to adhere to the agency’s standard operating
  593         audit procedures; revising how often a private
  594         provider or private provider firm may be audited;
  595         requiring certain written communication be provided to
  596         the private provider or private provider firm under
  597         certain circumstances; conforming cross-references;
  598         conforming provisions to changes made by the act;
  599         amending s. 553.792, F.S.; revising the timeframes for
  600         approving, approving with conditions, or denying
  601         certain building permits; prohibiting a local
  602         government from requiring a waiver of certain
  603         timeframes; requiring local governments to meet the
  604         prescribed timeframes unless a local ordinance is more
  605         stringent; requiring a local government to provide
  606         written notice to an applicant under certain
  607         circumstances; requiring a local government to reduce
  608         permit fees by a certain percentage if certain
  609         deadlines are not met; providing exceptions;
  610         specifying requirements for the written notice to the
  611         permit applicant; specifying a timeframe for the
  612         applicant to correct the application; specifying a
  613         timeframe for the local government and local
  614         enforcement agency to approve or deny certain building
  615         permits following revision; requiring a reduction in
  616         the building permit fee if the approval deadline is
  617         not met; providing an exception;