Florida has begun this year’s legislative session. With it, the Florida Swimming Pool Association (FSPA) has hopes for a scope of language bill and is monitoring a number of water-safety bills.
“We’re not looking to expand or contract the scope of work, but clarify the terminology and modernize it to current industry parlance,” said Dallas Thiesen, FSPA’s chief government relations officer.
Currently, contractors find officials interpreting current scope-of-work language differently from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. With SB 570 and HB 453, FSPA hopes that will end.
“We have 453 building officials, give or take,” Thiesen said. “So we have 453 scopes of work.”
Right now, builders can hit unexpected roadblocks, such as being denied a permit to expand a deck it built in the past, since the pool itself isn’t included in the new job. They may be required to hire another contractor to build a retaining wall, or be told they can’t operate a dewatering pump.
Other relevant bills address water safety. SB604 and HB 93 would make the state’s residential swimming pool safety device mandate retroactive when properties are transferred or sold.
HB207 would require door alarms on all doors leading directly to a swimming pool at a multifamily residence.
SB568 and HB419 would require organizations to gather specific information, provide stipulated types of floating devices and take other extra measures to protect certain children.
The state legislature also is considering a pair of bills addressing heat-related illness. SB510 and HB35 would require certain employers to implement an outdoor heat-exposure safety program.
