Blog

New Exemptions (Apartment’s Can Use In House Techs for Small Jobs)

New Exemptions

As of July 1, 2016, section 489.103, F.S. is amended to add a new exemption for apartment community employees or apartment management company employees. The employees are exempted from contractor licensing requirements when they are performing minor repairs to existing electric water heaters, electric heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems when the repair costs do not exceed $1,000.00 and are not the functional equivalent of replacing the system. Employees are required to have one year of apartment maintenance experience and hold an apartment maintenance technician’s certificate from the National Apartment Association (NAA) to qualify for the exemption. The NAA certification course must be accredited by the American National Standards Institute and consists of a 90 hour training course covering identified topics and completion of examination requirements. The exemption only applies to employees of apartment communities of 100 apartments or greater and does not prohibit local jurisdictions from creating local license requirements for the performance of such work.

Likewise, the new law amends section 489.105(3)(m), F.S., to include the provisions that the definition of plumbing contractor “. . . does not require certification or registration under this part as a category I liquefied petroleum gas dealer, LP gas installer, or specialty installer who is licensed under chapter 527. . .”

Military Veterans Can Now Use Experience from the Military!

Military Veterans

Beginning July 1, 2016 new provisions went into effect to assist U.S. Military Veterans applying for licensure. The new provisions specifically allow for experience gained in the military to be used toward the requirements for licensure. Up to three years of military experience can be applied toward the experience requirements for a certified contractor’s license. New forms were posted on July 1, 2016 for veterans to use when applying for licensure.

Veterans should submit the Veteran Fee Waiver and Military Service Verification Form along with the application for licensure.

Follow this link to Contractor licensure applications.

Recovery Fund (2016 Update)

Governor Rick Scott recently signed House Bill 535, which includes important updates to sections 489.1401-143, F.S., permitting payments to injured residential consumers from the Florida Homeowners Recovery Fund for both Division I and Division II scopes of work.

Effective July 1, 2016, all licensed contractors, both Division I and Division II, must ensure that the Florida Homeowner Construction Recovery Fund Notice is contained in their residential contracts.

Governor Rick Scott recently signed House Bill 535, which includes important updates to sections 489.1401-143,F.S., permitting payments to injured residential consumers from the Florida Homeowners Recovery Fund for both Division I and Division II scopes of work. Effective July 1, 2016, all licensed contractors, both Division I and Division II, must ensure that the Florida Homeowner Construction Recovery Fund Notice is contained in their residential contracts. According to section 489.1425(1): Each agreement or contract for repair, restoration, improvement, or construction to residential real property must contain a written statement explaining the consumer’s rights under the recovery fund, except where the value of all labor and materials does not exceed $2,500.

The written statement must be substantially in the following form: FLORIDA HOMEOWNERS’ CONSTRUCTION RECOVERY FUND PAYMENT, UP TO A LIMITED AMOUNT, MAY BE AVAILABLE FROM THE FLORIDA HOMEOWNERS’ CONSTRUCTION RECOVERY FUND IF YOU LOSE MONEY ON A PROJECT PERFORMED UNDER CONTRACT, WHERE THE LOSS RESULTS FROM SPECIFIED VIOLATIONS OF FLORIDA LAW BY A LICENSED CONTRACTOR. FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE RECOVERY FUND AND FILING A CLAIM, CONTACT THE FLORIDA CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY LICENSING BOARD AT THE FOLLOWING TELEPHONE NUMBER AND ADDRESS:

Construction Industry Licensing Board

2601 Blairstone Road Tallahassee, FL 32399-1039

850-487-1395

You may review all changes made to the Florida Homeowners’ Construction Recovery Fund by House Bill 535 at the following link: Laws of Florida Chapter 2016-129