The following is posted on the HB 607 link on our Action Center. Please reach out to members of the State Administration Budget Subcommittee before the next meeting. and ask the members to vote no on this bill.
State Administration Budget Subcommittee | Florida House of Representatives
Opposition Position on HB 607-Repeal of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation Electrical Contractor’s Licensing Board (ECLB) and Continuing Education (CE) requirements.
The Florida Fire Marshals and Inspectors Association (FFMIA) stands with other professional organizations in opposition of the proposal to remove or sunset the ECLB and the related continuing educational requirements associated with the affected trades. Repealing the ECLB & CE Requirements threatens public safety, undermines professional standards, and puts Floridians at risk.
Continuing education is essential in industries where technological advances frequently surface between code cycles. It is critical in the scope of the installation of life safety systems regulated under the ECLB that contractors be required to stay current in these emerging technologies. Failure to do so will put lives at risk.
Favorable:
- FFMIA views reducing unnecessary regulation on professions and industries where there are not life safety or public safety consequences as favorable.
Unfavorable:
- Repealing the ECLB and continuing education for life safety industries is not deregulation — it degrades consumer protection and industry credibility. In 2020, the electrical and alarm contractors underwent a legislative review that reduced the CE hours, up to 50%.
- Shifting authority to non-technical DBPR staff, removing peer review from license vetting and disciplinary actions is detrimental to the industry and will have an opposite effect than the bill’s intention. It will result in an immediate backlog of applications, will slow progress and the ability for people to pursue their chosen careers.
- It takes decision making from the current citizen-based board member subject matter experts (SMEs) and puts it in the hands of non-technical DBPR staff.
- The ECLB is not just a licensing board — it’s a regulatory body that provides fair and knowledgeable oversight by industry experts. This bill will reduce consistency and diminish accountability.
Solution:
We respectfully urge you to:
- Exclude the ECLB and life safety industry (parts of Ch. 489, Part II) from HB 607.
- Preserve the ECLB, and the current CE structure that recently underwent a reduction in hours in 2020.
- Recognize that fire and security systems are not optional — they are essential to protecting lives and property.