The following link to Florida HB 5005 will eliminate 30+ regulated professions and/or boards. I have placed in bold those potentially impacting the construction industry:

http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2011/5005

Deregulation of Professions and Occupations: Deletes provisions establishing DBPR's Division of Florida Condominiums, Timeshares, & Mobile Homes, Florida Board of Auctioneers, Board of Employee Leasing Companies, Board of Landscape Architecture, Board of Professional Geologists, & Board of Professional Surveyors & Mappers, Motor Vehicle Repair Advisory Council, & Regulatory Council of Community Association Managers; deletes provisions for regulation of yacht & ship brokers, auctioneers, talent agencies, community association managers, athlete agents, employee leasing companies, home inspectors, mold assessors & remediators, professional surveyors & mappers, persons practicing hair braiding, hair wrapping, or body wrapping, interior designers, landscape architects, professional geologists, professional fundraising consultants & solicitors, water vending machines & operators, health studios, ballroom dance studios, commercial telephone sellers & salespersons, movers & moving brokers, certain outdoor theaters, certain business opportunities, motor vehicle repair shops, sellers of travel, contracts with sales representatives involving commissions, & television picture tubes; revises name & membership of Board of Architecture; revises license classifications of public lodging establishments; deletes DBPR's authority to enforce & ensure compliance of certain provisions relating to condominiums, cooperatives, vacation plans & timeshares, & mobile homes.

Effective Date: July 1, 2011

With the exception of home inspectors and surveyers, how does the elimination of regulating these trades affect public safety and health?

I think the real question is what our new governor is going to do.
With the mission statement to streamline red tape for business it may just be the beginning.

I am much more in favor of deregulation verses unfunded mandates created by regulation. It seems like in the last 10 years or so, the legislation that affects the construction industry here in Flordia has been loaded with dozens of mandates but with no guidance on how to administer the regulations.

I wouldn't mind seeing the state government downsize a bit.

Did you know there are over 800 state employees that make over $100,000 a year salary & that 525+ retired employees are receiving pensions of greater than $100,000 a year?

That's fine, BUT, 85% of government layoff's in the state over the last 4 years have been those making less than $55,000 a year leaving a "too many chief, not enough indian" status in most counties and municipalities.

To finish up your week, here is a quick update of three bills affecting the construction industry:



SB838 / HB607 – Electrical Contracting


There has been no action on this bill since 3/8/11.







HB5005 – Deregulation of Professions


This bill no longer includes professionals or occupancies related to the construction industry.







SB396 / HB849 – Building Bill


As of 3/24/11, many and significant changes (17 amendments) have occurred to this bill.



· The committee substitute repeals the allowance for Division I contractors that are also Home Inspectors from performing any repair work to properties they have inspected as home inspectors.



· The committee substitute expands the list of license holders that can also qualify for the home inspector license including; certain CILB licensed A/C contractors and certain ECLB licensed electrical contractors.



· The committee substitute creates language to allow non-licensed landscape architects to submit landscape design plans.



· The committee substitute amends a significant portion of the statutory language regarding Accessibility and ADA compliance regulations.



Please keep in mind these bills and several others are continuously changing and being revised. In addition the bills currently being considered during this legislative session, Governor Scott has prepared a budget that will likely have significant impact on state, county, and municipal employees. Following is a link to a website created by the Office of the Governor to track what is going on in the Governor’s office:



http://www.floridahasarighttoknow.com/

Good updates. Thanks Bryan