Legislative Issues and Victories
The Latest on Our Legislative Issues and Victories
As “The Voice of Commercial Construction”, and the largest association for this aspect of the industry, ABC’s legislative priorities are raised and vetted by our General and Specialty Contractor, Associate and Supplier members. When we bring an issue to the Legislature, it has been signed off on by all aspects of the Commercial Construction Industry.
For more information, contact Carol Bowen at cbowen@abceastflorida.com or call 954-984-0075.
Public Works Projects
(HB 53 Rep. DiCeglie/Senator Brodeur) ABC BILL
This legislation was our top priority in that it seeks to ensure a more open and competitive process on public works project. The legislation applies to any public project, state or local, with a price tag of $1 million or more, that is funded with at least $1 of state funding. The legislation ensures that contractors licensed to do work in the state can compete on work statewide and that they cannot be subject to overly specific or restrictive pre-bid mandates relating to hiring, wage and benefit, training, and geographic location. As Florida continues to work to rebuild our economy, it is important that our marketplace be as competitive as possible for the companies in Florida seeking work.
Click here for more information on how other industry bills of interest did this session.
Construction Permits
(HB 1059 Rep. Will Robinson/Senator Boyd) with ABC REQUEST
This legislation was a priority out of the House Business and Professions Subcommittee. ABC of Florida had the opportunity to participate in a panel discussion on the topic of Permit Reform during the pre-session committee weeks. ABC Member Holly Loeffler of Moss Construction testified to one of our most recent concerns – Building Departments requiring copies of private contracts between the General Contractor and the Owner and their subcontractors as a requirement of securing a permit. Private contracts contain competitive and proprietary information that should not be subject to public records requests. House Bill 1059 includes in it a prohibition on this behavior.
What else does it do? It establishes a series of required best practices from posting all required types of permits and to allowing online submissions with attachments and online payments. Additionally, this legislation would require fee reductions or reimbursement. This is a great piece of legislation and ABC appreciates the opportunity to participate on the panel and to have our request included in the legislation.
Click here for more information on how other industry bills of interest did this session.
Workforce Related Programs and Services
(HB 1507 Rep. Yarborough/Senator Albritton) with ABC REQUEST
This massive reform effort was a top initiative for Speaker Chris Sprowls and seeks to overhaul how the current workforce education processes work in Florida. The main goal is to create a one-stop shop information resource of available services to Floridians seeking workforce education opportunities, supportive services, and Pre-Apprenticeship/Apprenticeship programs. ABC had a bill on Apprenticeship and Pre-Apprenticeship programs (HB 175/SB 508) that would have increased transparency and accountability in current DOE practices relating to Apprenticeship. HB 1507 includes our goals, but on a much broader scale.
Click here for more information on how other industry bills of interest did this session.
ABC Priorities that Didn’t Make It
Relating to Construction Defects
(HB 21/SB 270 1507 Rep. Andrade/Senator Perry)
This legislation was a collaborative effort amongst many industry groups on both the residential and commercial side. Chapter 558 was originally meant to serve as an alternative dispute resolution process whereby owners and contractors to address alleged claims of defects on a project without immediately involving their respective attorneys and insurance carriers. While there is agreement that the existing statute is broken, there is no consensus amongst industry members, including within ABC of Florida, as to how to best address current issues relating to the statute.
The bill proposed to do the following:
- Amend the definition of material violation;
- Require use of existing warranties;
- Require owner to allow the defect to be fixed if the offer is made;
- Require attestation by the owner that they have personal knowledge of the defect;
- Require parties to opt-in to the 558 process; and
- Require notice to mortgagee or assignee that a 558 claim has been filed and whether repairs have been offered or made to the property.
Click here for more information on how other industry bills of interest did this session.
For more information, contact Carol Bowen at cbowen@abceastflorida.com or call 954-984-0075.