The statute is being proposed in response to a phase out of certain contractor licenses issued by cities and counties, and would require the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board to issue registered licenses to contractors that had certain local licenses from 2021 through 2023 in areas where those local licenses have been phased out.
House Bill 1579 (and the nearly identical Senate Bill 1142) provides a pathway for contractors that had a local contractor’s license that matches up with an existing state-issued license, but is being phased out by the local municipality, to obtain that license for use within a given county, without having to take an exam, so long as the contractor meets certain requirements. This is accomplished by adding the following language to 489.117, Florida Statutes:
(b) The board shall issue a registration to an eligible applicant to engage in the business of a contractor in a specified local jurisdiction, provided each of the following conditions are satisfied:
1. The applicant held, in any local jurisdiction in this state during 2021, 2022, or 2023, a certificate of registration issued by the state or a local license issued by a local jurisdiction to perform work in a category of contractor defined in s. 489.105(3)(a)-(o).
2. The applicant submits all of the following to the board:
a. Evidence of the certificate of registration or local license held by the applicant as required by subparagraph 1.
b. Evidence that the specified local jurisdiction does not have a license type available for the category of work for which the applicant was issued a certification of registration or local license during 2021, 2022, or 2023, such as a notification on the website of the local jurisdiction or an email or letter from the office of the local building official or local building department stating that such license type is not available in that local jurisdiction.
c. Evidence that the applicant has submitted the required fee.
d. Evidence of compliance with the insurance and financial responsibility requirements of s. 489.115(5).
An examination is not required for an applicant seeking a registration under this paragraph.
(c) The board is responsible for disciplining licensees issued a registration under paragraph (b). The board shall make such licensure and disciplinary information available through the automated information system provided pursuant to s. 455.2286.
(d) The fees for an applicant seeking a registration under paragraph (b) and renewal of such registration every 2 years are the same as the fees established by the board for applications, registration and renewal, and record making and recordkeeping, as set forth in s. 489.109. The department shall provide license, renewal, and cancelation notices pursuant to ss. 455.273 and 455.275.
If enacted, this statute would become effective July 1, 2024.