Florida Licensing Bill - Action Soon

[John Bowman]

Originally Posted by jburkeson1

We expect the bill will reach the Governor's desk shortly, once it does the letters, phone calls & faxes must come pouring in if we expect any veto. If you wish to see this bill vetoed, then once again I am posting my model letter for anyone to use, I encourage others to post their letters to this thread for public use.

Contact Governor Charlie Crist


Dear Governor Crist:

From your years as Florida Attorney General and now as our Governor it is apparent that your goal is to protect the citizens of Florida. As a professional member of the Florida home inspection industry, I too seek to protect the consumer when making the single most expensive purchase they are likely to ever undertake, we are on the same team.

Today you are being presented the option to enact home inspector legislation into law here in Florida. At first glance House Bill 1399 and Senate Bill 2234 appear to be a viable way to set standards for the home inspection profession and insure the public will attain some modicum of protection. A true study of the bills provisions though would reveal they are lacking in any language that would set a minimum standard of care to protect the consumer. The bills are deficient in that they have no written Standards of Practice, nor is there any Code of Ethics upon which to guide the home inspector in his duty’s to the public. Furthermore the bill does not provide the consumer any information on what constitutes an inspection or what expectations can be relied upon when an inspection is performed.

If you take the time to truly read this bill you will readily see this bill is not in keeping with the high standards that you have set for your administration and I respectfully request that you veto this legislation. Signing this poorly written legislation that lacks any set of standards into law would give consumers a false hope of protection where none currently exist within the bills.

We know your conviction to the citizens of Florida and your fervent desire to protect them, please send this legislation back to the House and Senate and demand this bill be amended to include language which would truly set Standards of Practice that will protect the public.

Joe B.,

To me your letter indicates that you support licensing.

[gbeaumont]

Originally Posted by jbowman

Joe B.,

To me your letter indicates that you support licensing.

Hi John,

I'm not attempting to reply for Joe B here, but I don't think realisticaly that anyone has anything to fear from a bill that is equitable to all parties, but this bill doesn't pass the taste test by a wide margin.

It is badly deffiecient in these areas:

• No Standards of practice
• No Code of Ethics
• No public protection
• No protection of the inspector from frivolous claims
• No statute of limitation on claims against inspectors
• No proper grandfathering provisions

And that is just the inspector part of the bill, the mold section also has its fair share of issues although most inspectors would be spared most of that sections defficiencies.

Regards

Gerry

[Greg Bell]

Hi Gerry,

I think that New York is a perfect example of why all of these items should be addressed before the bill becomes law. It will be interesting to see what special interest group comes out on top and molds the current bill into what they want.

[Nick Gromicko]

And no way to get a curriculum pre-approved for the required course. We're ready to offer the course to all NACHI members in Florida.

[Joseph Burkeson, CMI]

Originally Posted by jbowman

Joe B.,

To me your letter indicates that you support licensing.

Looks are deceiving, I am sure if Governor Crist were to introduce "meaningful" legislation I am sure I could still find something wrong with it.

[Jay Schwartz]

I find it completely and utterly disappointing that the Executive membership (Nick, John, Blaine) have been under a rock during this campaign. Perhaps the three of you could call the Governor on Monday and voice your concerns for your membership.

If you have already made the call, then let the membership know when it actually happened.

I am still waiting on a mass email campaign to let the Florida membership know about this bill. We get plenty of emails from Prolab and the like about CE classes or conventions. Perhaps an email with the Bill attached would be a way to get the info at as well as a position statement on what they should do. Hell, even A$HI and NAHI have a legislative update on their web site.

Perhaps Chris could generate a mass email address signature page. 1500 HI in Florida are waiting for your actions.

Joe, Greg, Doug, Matt, Zoe, myself, and others cannot go this alone!

[John Bowman]

Originally Posted by jschwartz1

I find it completely and utterly disappointing that the Executive membership (Nick, John, Blaine) have been under a rock during this campaign. Perhaps the three of you could call the Governor on Monday and voice your concerns for your membership.

If you have already made the call, then let the membership know when it actually happened.

I am still waiting on a mass email campaign to let the Florida membership know about this bill. We get plenty of emails from Prolab and the like about CE classes or conventions. Perhaps an email with the Bill attached would be a way to get the info at as well as a position statement on what they should do. Hell, even A$HI and NAHI have a legislative update on their web site.

Perhaps Chris could generate a mass email address signature page. 1500 HI in Florida are waiting for your actions.

Joe, Greg, Doug, Matt, Zoe, myself, and others cannot go this alone!

Sure...Will call first thing Monday morning. Which stance or side do the members down in Florida want me to speak for. Those against or for??

[Mathew Hawley]

John,

The members that are active on this message board are against the current bill. The bill has many flaws that will affect many businesses.

If we are the largest HI Org in Florida, I would think, we would have more influence on the bill in general. If it does pass we can still influence the changes that need to be made to make it a more effective bill with better consumer and inspector protection.

Please make a call, there is power in numbers and I just feel over all NACHI has not supported their Florida members.

Jay, Paul, Greg, Gary, Doug and Joe have fought hard - Thanks guys

They listened to us and changed the grandfather clause. Now the people pushing for this bill have to jump through the same hoops as the everyone else. We can help make additional changes that appeal to all and wont affect the future endeavors and dreams many have planned and worked hard on.

We need NACHI support though.

[Richard L. Bennett]

John

Very much against it.

Points include; Clients will not be able to find someone for mold in the state at any cost, school for the number of inspectors that we have in the state does not exist, instructor qualifications etc.

I am sure Jay can supply some additional points

In short it is a bad bill for the consumer

rlb

[John Bowman]

Originally Posted by rbennett

John

Very much against it.

Points include; Clients will not be able to find someone for mold in the state at any cost, school for the number of inspectors that we have in the state does not exist, instructor qualifications etc.

I am sure Jay can supply some additional points

In short it is a bad bill for the consumer

rlb

What part of the bill should NACHI the association be concerned with? Is there bias against NACHI anywhere within the bill?

[Joseph Burkeson, CMI]

Originally Posted by jbowman

What part of the bill should NACHI the association be concerned with? Is there bias against NACHI anywhere within the bill?

Not as of this date, but it is so open ended that anything is possible. Suffice it to say that the only proponents of this bill are FABI & NAHI, they must be thinking that somehow they will be able to make chicken salad out of this chicken ***** bill. Everyone else is firmly against it even the local ASHI clan which pisses off many of the ivory tower boys back in ASHIville.

Those who oppose this bill should concentrate on the lack of a Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics to begin with.

[John Bowman]

Originally Posted by mhawley

John,

The members that are active on this message board are against the current bill. The bill has many flaws that will affect many businesses.

If we are the largest HI Org in Florida, I would think, we would have more influence on the bill in general. If it does pass we can still influence the changes that need to be made to make it a more effective bill with better consumer and inspector protection.

Please make a call, there is power in numbers and I just feel over all NACHI has not supported their Florida members.

Jay, Paul, Greg, Gary, Doug and Joe have fought hard - Thanks guys

They listened to us and changed the grandfather clause. Now the people pushing for this bill have to jump through the same hoops as the everyone else. We can help make additional changes that appeal to all and wont affect the future endeavors and dreams many have planned and worked hard on.

We need NACHI support though.

I understand your concerns, but so far I have not been notified nor have I seen anything that should involve NACHI the association.

NACHI's position on legislation is almost entirely based on association bias. If proposed legislation contains any association bias we are more than happy to get involved. We do not have any consortium or position when it comes to grandfathering, schooling, etc. Individual members should fend for themselves and voice their own opinions and take their own actions regarding state, local, or county legislation that will effect them and their business. NACHI finds it difficult if not impossible to speak for each and every member.

In other words by supporting NACHI members in favor of licensing would aleniate those who are in disfavor and vis a versa.

[John Bowman]

Originally Posted by jburkeson1

Not as of this date, but it is so open ended that anything is possible. Suffice it to say that the only proponents of this bill are FABI & NAHI, they must be thinking that somehow they will be able to make chicken salad out of this chicken ***** bill. Everyone else is firmly against it even the local ASHI clan which pisses off many of the ivory tower boys back in ASHIville.

Those who oppose this bill should concentrate on the lack of a Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics to begin with.

NACHI Florida membership may want to start plan B. Placement/nomination of NACHI members on any future boards or advisory groups if plan A fails.

[gporter]

Against

[Richard L. Bennett]

John

Association bias would be hard to write into regulation. It has been tried in other states but in reality it is a non issue

Some very "back door" bias will exist with association backed schools and testing companies.

I feel that with the amount of $ involved in the education are that NACHI education will not be approved for any thing

This is association bias but would be hard to nail to the wall

Do you want to go down that thread??

rlb