The Florida Home Builders Association set its priorities for the 2011 Legislative Session during the recent Fall Leadership Conference.
The Governmental Affairs Committee considered and debated over 17 issues that are anticipated to impact our industry.
The priorities are:
• Growth Management/ DCA Sunset review: Sunsetting the Department of Community Affairs and the reenactment of the favorable provisions of SB 360 that was recently invalidated by a legal challenge are front and center this session. The fact that the DCA may go away is meaningless if changes to Florida’s Growth Management system are not accomplished, said the committee. Key provisions in SB 360 addressed lessening concurrency mandates in urban areas and allowing local governments more decision making without state oversight. Growth management should not be a barrier to economic development in Florida.
• Sadowski Affordable Housing funding: Last session saw the last minute failure to pass a key FHBA legislative objective to remove the cap that restricts the amount of funds available to purchase affordable housing. In addition, advocating for stopping the sweeping of funds to general revenue continues to be a priority.
• Septic Tank Study (Phase III) funding: FHBA will work to secure the final year of funding to assure the successful completion of the alternative passive septic tank design study for nitrogen reduction. The project results are needed to head off governmental mandates of overly expensive and unneeded engineered-designed systems.
• Septic Tank Inspection program: The passage of SB 550 in 2010 established the requirement of a septic tank inspection once every five years. Unfortunately, said the committee, the state agency responsible for developing the program has over-reached causing significant public out cry for repeal. A reasonable and cost effective inspection program is important to head off even more unnecessarily extensive septic tank regulation and increased costs otherwise on the horizon.
• Regulatory Streamlining: Last legislative session saw the passage of HB 1565 which was vetoed by Gov. Charlie Crist. FHBA supports reenactment of this bill that would finally establish a restriction on state agencies adopting costly rules without review and ratification by the Legislature.
• Home Inspectors: This priority focuses on grandfathering of state licensed division 1 contractor as a Home Inspector. Contractors would be provided with an opportunity to obtain a home inspector license based on their status in good standing with the Department of Business and Professional Regulation.