Title: Regulation of Water Damage Restoration

Summary: Defining the terms "professional water damage restorer" and "water damage restoration"; requiring the Department of Business and Professional Regulation to license applicants who are qualified to practice water damage restoration; specifying qualifications for licensure, etc.

Full Text:
An act relating to the regulation of water damage restoration; amending s. 468.8411, F.S.; defining the terms  professional water damage restorer  and  water damage restoration ; amending s. 468.8414, F.S.; requiring the Department of Business and Professional Regulation to license applicants who are qualified to practice water damage restoration; specifying qualifications for licensure; providing applicability of certain prohibitions and penalties to professional water damage restorers; providing an effective date. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1. Subsections (7) and (8) are added to section 468.8411, Florida Statutes, to read: 468.8411 Definitions. As used in this part, the term: (7)   Professional water damage restorer  means any person who performs water damage restoration. (8)   Water damage restoration  means water removal, demolition, dehumidification, or other treatment related to water damage or water-contaminated matter greater than square feet. Section 2. Subsection (1) of section 468.8414, Florida Statutes, is amended, present subsection (4) of that section is redesignated as subsection (6), and a new subsection (4) and subsection (5) are added to that section, to read: 468.8414 Licensure.  (1) The department shall license any applicant who the department certifies is qualified to practice mold assessment,or mold remediation,or water damage restoration.(4)  The department shall certify for licensure as a professional water damage restorer an applicant who: (a) Is of good moral character; (b) Has the insurance coverage required under s. 468.8421; and (c) Satisfies the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification S500 standards. (5)  The prohibitions and penalties described in s. 468.8419 apply to a professional water damage restorer. Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2017.