Bill Text: FL S0922 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Swimming Pool and Spa Contractors

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2024-03-08 - Died in Regulated Industries [S0922 Detail]

Download: Florida-2024-S0922-Introduced.html
       Florida Senate - 2024                                     SB 922
       
       
        
       By Senator Perry
       
       
       
       
       
       9-00879-24                                             2024922__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to swimming pool and spa contractors;
    3         amending s. 489.105, F.S.; revising definitions;
    4         amending s. 489.143, F.S.; specifying a maximum
    5         recovery amount for certain claims relating to certain
    6         contracts; specifying a total aggregate cap for
    7         certain licensees relating to certain contracts;
    8         providing an effective date.
    9          
   10  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   11  
   12         Section 1. Paragraphs (j), (k), and (l) of subsection (3)
   13  of section 489.105, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
   14         489.105 Definitions.—As used in this part:
   15         (3) “Contractor” means the person who is qualified for, and
   16  is only responsible for, the project contracted for and means,
   17  except as exempted in this part, the person who, for
   18  compensation, undertakes to, submits a bid to, or does himself
   19  or herself or by others construct, repair, alter, remodel, add
   20  to, demolish, subtract from, or improve any building or
   21  structure, including related improvements to real estate, for
   22  others or for resale to others; and whose job scope is
   23  substantially similar to the job scope described in one of the
   24  paragraphs of this subsection. For the purposes of regulation
   25  under this part, the term “demolish” applies only to demolition
   26  of steel tanks more than 50 feet in height; towers more than 50
   27  feet in height; other structures more than 50 feet in height;
   28  and all buildings or residences. Contractors are subdivided into
   29  two divisions, Division I, consisting of those contractors
   30  defined in paragraphs (a)-(c), and Division II, consisting of
   31  those contractors defined in paragraphs (d)-(q):
   32         (j) “Commercial pool/spa contractor” means a contractor
   33  whose scope of work involves, but is not limited to, all phases
   34  of the construction, repair, renovation, remodel,
   35  deconstruction, and servicing of any swimming pool, or hot tub,
   36  or spa, splash pad or other interactive water feature,
   37  decorative water feature, public bathing place, or swimming pool
   38  or spa appurtenance, whether public, private, or otherwise,
   39  regardless of use.
   40         1. The scope of such work includes, but is not limited to,
   41  all of the following:
   42         a.The scope of work of a swimming pool/spa servicing
   43  contractor.
   44         b.The connection, replacement, disconnection, or
   45  reconnection of power wiring on the load side of the dedicated
   46  existing electrical circuit disconnect means for swimming pool,
   47  spa, hot tub, or water feature equipment.
   48         c.The installation of equipotential bonding; swimming
   49  pool, spa, or hot tub lighting; light transformers; light
   50  conduit; and any cleaning or sanitizing equipment that requires
   51  at least partial disassembling.
   52         d.The construction of equipment rooms or housing for
   53  swimming pool, spa, hot tub, or water feature equipment.
   54         e.Excavation and earthmoving required for the installation
   55  of swimming pools, spas, hot tubs, or water features and the
   56  operation of construction pumps for dewatering purposes for
   57  swimming pool, spa, hot tub, or water feature excavation sites
   58  and drained swimming pools, spas, hot tubs, or water features.
   59         f.The installation of rebar or similar support materials
   60  for swimming pool, spa, hot tub, or water feature structures,
   61  and the shaping and shooting of gunite dry mix and wet mix,
   62  concrete, or similar product mix used in the construction of
   63  swimming pools, spas, hot tubs, or water features.
   64         g.The installation of fiberglass swimming pool, spa, or
   65  hot tub shells and vinyl swimming pool, spa, or hot tub liners.
   66         h.The application and removal of all interior swimming
   67  pool, spa, hot tub, or water feature finishes.
   68         i.The construction, maintenance, or remodel of decorative
   69  or interactive water features, displays, or areas that use
   70  recirculated water, including fountains, waterfalls, and spray
   71  nozzles.
   72         j.The installation of all swimming pool, spa, hot tub, or
   73  water feature piping, including, but not limited to, drain
   74  piping, perimeter piping, and circulation or filter piping, used
   75  in the construction of swimming pools, spas, hot tubs, or
   76  decorative or interactive water feature displays or areas.
   77         k.The construction and installation of retaining walls,
   78  concrete flatwork, pavers and bricks, and footings associated
   79  with the construction of swimming pools, spas, hot tubs, or
   80  water features, whether newly constructed or additions to or
   81  remodels of existing swimming pools, spas, hot tubs, or water
   82  features The installation, repair, or replacement of existing
   83  equipment, any cleaning or equipment sanitizing that requires at
   84  least a partial disassembling, excluding filter changes, and the
   85  installation of new pool/spa equipment, interior finishes, the
   86  installation of package pool heaters, the installation of all
   87  perimeter piping and filter piping, and the construction of
   88  equipment rooms or housing for pool/spa equipment, and also
   89  includes the scope of work of a swimming pool/spa servicing
   90  contractor.
   91         2. The scope of such work does not include direct
   92  connections to a sanitary sewer system or to potable water
   93  lines, the installation or upgrade of dedicated electrical
   94  disconnect or electrical circuits, or any work inside a main
   95  electrical panel. The installation, construction, modification,
   96  or replacement of equipment permanently attached to and
   97  associated with the pool or spa for the purpose of water
   98  treatment or cleaning of the pool or spa requires licensure;
   99  however,
  100         3. The usage of swimming pool, spa, hot tub, or water
  101  feature such equipment for the purposes of water treatment or
  102  cleaning does not require licensure unless the usage involves
  103  installation construction, modification, or replacement of such
  104  equipment. Water treatment that does not require such equipment;
  105  filter media changes; or the cleaning of a swimming pool, spa,
  106  hot tub, or water feature, or its associated equipment, which
  107  does not affect the structural integrity of the swimming pool,
  108  spa, hot tub, or water feature, does not require a license. In
  109  addition, a license is not required for the cleaning of the pool
  110  or spa in a way that does not affect the structural integrity of
  111  the pool or spa or its associated equipment.
  112         (k) “Residential pool/spa contractor” has the same meaning
  113  as a commercial pool/spa contractor under paragraph (j), except
  114  a residential pool/spa contractor may not construct any new
  115  commercial swimming pool, spa, hot tub, or public bathing place.
  116  means a contractor whose scope of work involves, but is not
  117  limited to, the construction, repair, and servicing of a
  118  residential swimming pool, or hot tub or spa, regardless of use.
  119  The scope of work includes the installation, repair, or
  120  replacement of existing equipment, any cleaning or equipment
  121  sanitizing that requires at least a partial disassembling,
  122  excluding filter changes, and the installation of new pool/spa
  123  equipment, interior finishes, the installation of package pool
  124  heaters, the installation of all perimeter piping and filter
  125  piping, and the construction of equipment rooms or housing for
  126  pool/spa equipment, and also includes the scope of work of a
  127  swimming pool/spa servicing contractor. The scope of such work
  128  does not include direct connections to a sanitary sewer system
  129  or to potable water lines. The installation, construction,
  130  modification, or replacement of equipment permanently attached
  131  to and associated with the pool or spa for the purpose of water
  132  treatment or cleaning of the pool or spa requires licensure;
  133  however, the usage of such equipment for the purposes of water
  134  treatment or cleaning does not require licensure unless the
  135  usage involves construction, modification, or replacement of
  136  such equipment. Water treatment that does not require such
  137  equipment does not require a license. In addition, a license is
  138  not required for the cleaning of the pool or spa in a way that
  139  does not affect the structural integrity of the pool or spa or
  140  its associated equipment.
  141         (l) “Swimming pool/spa servicing contractor” means a
  142  contractor whose scope of work includes involves, but is not
  143  limited to, all aspects of the repair, renovation, remodeling,
  144  or and servicing of a swimming pool, or hot tub, or spa, splash
  145  pad or other interactive water feature, decorative water
  146  feature, public bathing place, or swimming pool or spa
  147  appurtenance, whether public or private, or otherwise,
  148  regardless of use.
  149         1. The scope of work includes, but is not limited to, all
  150  of the following:
  151         a.The installation, repair, or replacement of all swimming
  152  pool, spa, hot tub, or water feature equipment, including, but
  153  not limited to, pool pumps; filters; feeders; controllers; and
  154  swimming pool, spa, or hot tub heaters, whether electric, gas,
  155  or solar.
  156         b.The connection, replacement, disconnection, or
  157  reconnection of power wiring on the load side of the dedicated
  158  existing electrical circuit disconnect means for swimming pool,
  159  spa, hot tub, or water feature equipment.
  160         c.The repair or replacement of equipotential bonding;
  161  swimming pool, spa, or hot tub lighting; light transformers;
  162  light conduit; and any cleaning or sanitizing equipment that
  163  requires at least partial disassembling.
  164         d.The repair of equipment rooms or housing for swimming
  165  pool, spa, hot tub, or water feature equipment.
  166         e.The repair or replacement of all perimeter piping and
  167  filter piping.
  168         f.The substantial or complete draining of a swimming pool,
  169  spa, or hot tub for the purpose of a repair or renovation and
  170  the operation of construction pumps for dewatering purposes for
  171  drained swimming pools, spas, hot tubs, or water features.
  172         g.The removal and reapplication of all interior swimming
  173  pool, spa, hot tub, or water feature finishes.
  174         h.The installation, repair, or replacement of all tile and
  175  coping for swimming pools, spas, hot tubs, or water features the
  176  repair or replacement of existing equipment, any cleaning or
  177  equipment sanitizing that requires at least a partial
  178  disassembling, excluding filter changes, and the installation of
  179  new pool/spa equipment, interior refinishing, the reinstallation
  180  or addition of pool heaters, the repair or replacement of all
  181  perimeter piping and filter piping, the repair of equipment
  182  rooms or housing for pool/spa equipment, and the substantial or
  183  complete draining of a swimming pool, or hot tub or spa, for the
  184  purpose of repair or renovation.
  185         2. The scope of such work does not include direct
  186  connections to a sanitary sewer system or to potable water
  187  lines, the installation or upgrade of dedicated electrical
  188  disconnect or electrical circuits, or any work inside a main
  189  electrical panel. The installation, construction, modification,
  190  substantial or complete disassembly, or replacement of equipment
  191  permanently attached to and associated with the pool or spa for
  192  the purpose of water treatment or cleaning of the pool or spa
  193  requires licensure; however,
  194         3. The usage of swimming pool, spa, hot tub, or water
  195  feature such equipment for the purposes of water treatment or
  196  cleaning does not require licensure unless the usage involves
  197  installation construction, modification, substantial or complete
  198  disassembly, or replacement of such equipment. Water treatment
  199  that does not require such equipment; filter media changes; or
  200  the cleaning of a swimming pool, spa, hot tub, or water feature,
  201  or its associated equipment, which does not affect the
  202  structural integrity of the swimming pool, spa, hot tub, or
  203  water feature does not require a license. In addition, a license
  204  is not required for the cleaning of the pool or spa in a way
  205  that does not affect the structural integrity of the pool or spa
  206  or its associated equipment.
  207         Section 2. Subsections (3) and (6) of section 489.143,
  208  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  209         489.143 Payment from the fund.—
  210         (3)(a) Beginning January 1, 2005, for each Division I
  211  contract entered into after July 1, 2004, payment from the
  212  recovery fund is subject to a $50,000 maximum payment for each
  213  Division I claim.
  214         (b) Beginning January 1, 2017, for each Division II
  215  contract entered into on or after July 1, 2016, payment from the
  216  recovery fund is subject to a $15,000 maximum payment for each
  217  Division II claim.
  218         (c)Beginning January 1, 2025, for each contract entered
  219  into on or after July 1, 2024, with a Division II contractor
  220  certified or registered to perform the scope of work described
  221  in s. 489.105(3)(j), (k), or (l), payment from the recovery fund
  222  is subject to a $50,000 maximum payment for each Division II
  223  claim.
  224         (6)(a) For contracts entered into before July 1, 2004,
  225  payments for claims against any one licensee may not exceed, in
  226  the aggregate, $100,000 annually, up to a total aggregate of
  227  $250,000. For any claim approved by the board which is in excess
  228  of the annual cap, the amount in excess of $100,000 up to the
  229  total aggregate cap of $250,000 is eligible for payment in the
  230  next and succeeding fiscal years, but only after all claims for
  231  the then-current calendar year have been paid. Payments may not
  232  exceed the aggregate annual or per claimant limits under law.
  233         (b) Beginning January 1, 2005, for each Division I contract
  234  entered into after July 1, 2004, payment from the recovery fund
  235  is subject only to a total aggregate cap of $500,000 for each
  236  Division I licensee.
  237         (c) Beginning January 1, 2017, for each Division II
  238  contract entered into on or after July 1, 2016, payment from the
  239  recovery fund is subject only to a total aggregate cap of
  240  $150,000 for each Division II licensee.
  241         (d)Beginning January 1, 2025, for each contract entered
  242  into on or after July 1, 2024, with a Division II contractor
  243  certified or registered to perform the scope of work described
  244  in s. 489.105(3)(j), (k), or (l), payment from the recovery fund
  245  is subject only to a total aggregate cap of $500,000 for each
  246  Division II licensee.
  247         Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.

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