Florida Licensing Bill - Action Soon

[Jay Schwartz]

Here is one for you John.

The Bill is against our Standards of Practice. It allows inspectors to legally fix houses after the close of escrow.

You may want to become more intimately involved in the bill. I have posted a link for your reading enjoyment.

http://www.flsenate.gov/data/session...df/s2234er.pdf

Finally, please don't act like we have not made you, Nick, and Blaine aware of this until now. I for one have been in consistent communication with Blaine for many many many months. NACHI has made no attempt to contact the DBPR to get the NACHI exam certified. You can now bet your *** that NAHI has the NHIE approved. Nothing like having the NACHI membership support another org by paying for their friggin test.

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by jschwartz1

Here is one for you John.

The Bill is against our Standards of Practice. It allows inspectors to legally fix houses after the close of escrow.

You may want to become more intimately involved in the bill. I have posted a lonk for your reading enjoyment.

http://www.flsenate.gov/data/session...df/s2234er.pdf

Finally, please don't act like we have not made you, Nick, and Blaine aware of this until now. I for one have been in consistent communication with Blaine for many many many months. NACHI has made no attempt to contact the DBPR to get the NACHI exam certified. You can now bet your *** that NAHI has the NHIE approved. Nothing like having the NACHI membership support another org by paying for their friggin test.

Jay,

John is incorrect. NACHI, at the invitation of members at a state level, will get involved in fighting legislation that (1) puts existing inspectors out of business, (2) creates undue hardship upon new people entering the field, and/or (3) is association biased.

Did you contact Nick? As for Blaine, I cannot believe that he is not heavily involved (under the radar) representing NACHI as its president. I know he helped us in Missouri kill our bill.

There is so little that an association can do once a bill hits the floor, though. I think NACHI's greatest role could have come earlier in the game to convince the powers to be that neither the "coalition" or NAHI represent the interests of even half of Florida's home inspectors.

[Jay Schwartz]

Jim:

Nick was notfied VERY early on and was kept in the loop. I requested Nick to do certain things to save the membership in Florida. Others made the same attempt. Licensing has shown, with the exception of PA, once enacted, their is no reason to belong to one. Saving 10%-20% on a CE course is not an incentive.

[John Bowman]

Originally Posted by jschwartz1

Jim:

Nick was notfied VERY early on and was kept in the loop. I requested Nick to do certain things to save the membership in Florida. Others made the same attempt. Licensing has shown, with the exception of PA, once enacted, their is no reason to belong to one. Saving 10%-20% on a CE course is not an incentive.

I don't understand your beef Jay. If you kept Blaine and Nick in the loop, what exactly were you looking for.

[John Bowman]

Originally Posted by jbushart

Jay,

John is incorrect. NACHI, at the invitation of members at a state level, will get involved in fighting legislation that (1) puts existing inspectors out of business, (2) creates undue hardship upon new people entering the field, and/or (3) is association biased.

Did you contact Nick? As for Blaine, I cannot believe that he is not heavily involved (under the radar) representing NACHI as its president. I know he helped us in Missouri kill our bill.

There is so little that an association can do once a bill hits the floor, though. I think NACHI's greatest role could have come earlier in the game to convince the powers to be that neither the "coalition" or NAHI represent the interests of even half of Florida's home inspectors.

Thanks, for the post Jim. I agree with everything you said with the exception of the incorrect part.

No one, from Florida contacted me. Nick, or Blaine with concerns over inspectors being put out of business or excessive hurdles to obtain a license, or bias legislation in Florida.

Florida seems to have addressed most of the above with their 3-year process which if I remember, Jay supported. I believe it was termed "equality for everyone", no worries over grandfather stuff.

As far as emails go, I couldn't begin to tell everyone how many times that the updated Florida Mailing List has been provided to the group that was going to start up a State Chapter.

[John Bowman]

PS - Blaine has cc'd me with all emails that he has sent. I can see how one may interpret his emails as one coming from the NACHI President. But in reality it only mentions that he serves as the President and has not once stipulated that anything that he says is NACHI policy. Blaine is way to smart for that.

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by jschwartz1

Jim:

Nick was notfied VERY early on and was kept in the loop. I requested Nick to do certain things to save the membership in Florida. Others made the same attempt. Licensing has shown, with the exception of PA, once enacted, their is no reason to belong to one. Saving 10%-20% on a CE course is not an incentive.

Jay,

It's a strange paradox we deal with as NACHI members fighting legislation.

Where legislation ends all incentive for ASHI membership (for "credentials" they offer are replaced by "licenses" where everyone holding one becomes instantly and equally "competent and qualified") it tends to increase NACHI membership --- where those who are now "licensed" are facing increasing competition among people who hold the exact same license as they do. NACHI is and has always been known more for its marketing than its credentials. It's good for NACHI, but sucks for the inspector looking for someone to come in and battle on his behalf.

I will say that I have not known NACHI, in any state, to actually formulate a game plan to fight licensing, but I have seen Nick and Blaine respond to specific requests for specific actions to assist efforts to stop licensing.

At my request, Nick had agreed to come to Missouri and speak with legislators and conduct an email campaign to them....opposing the bill. As it turned out, we did not need to call upon him since the bill died in committee and never was scheduled for a vote.

In anticipation of next year's renewed efforts, much is being planned and we are counting on the various NACHI players to assist when called upon to support our efforts, as promised, but the planning and groundwork is all being done at a local level. I really can't see it working any other way.

[Jay Schwartz]

Originally Posted by jbowman

PS - Blaine has cc'd me with all emails that he has sent. I can see how one may interpret his emails as one coming from the NACHI President. But in reality it only mentions that he serves as the President and has not once stipulated that anything that he says is NACHI policy. Blaine is way to smart for that.

John:

Then why did you bother asking in the thread if there was anything you could do.

No one contacted you because you have been in hiding. All of the efforts have been recognized by Blaine. Please try not to look like you care at this point. It doesn't amuse anyone.

Don't take my comments personal John. Your actions are a little too late. Seems like when NY licensing was in play, you were engulfed in the process. 25% of the entire NACHI membership is in Florida. Your hands should have been on this one a while ago.

[Jay Schwartz]

Originally Posted by jbowman

As far as emails go, I couldn't begin to tell everyone how many times that the updated Florida Mailing List has been provided to the group that was going to start up a State Chapter.

Seems like the list went to an individual, not a GROUP. NACHI has the ability to send 2500 emails at a time without being spammed.

I would again suggest the link I provided you, be emailed to every FL NACHI member in the morning. ProLab managed to let inspectors know by sending out email on Friday. Funny how a vendor can pimp a $299 class for mold legislation, but we cannot get emails sent to our own membership by National.

[gporter]

Originally Posted by jschwartz1

John:

Then why did you bother asking in the thread if there was anything you could do.

No one contacted you because you have been in hiding. All of the efforts have been recognized by Blaine. Please try not to look like you care at this point. It doesn't amuse anyone.

Don't take my comments personal John. Your actions are a little too late. Seems like when NY licensing was in play, you were engulfed in the process. 25% of the entire NACHI membership is in Florida. Your hands should have been on this one a while ago.

I agree Jay.

[Nick Gromicko]

Jay, author the email you want to go out to all NACHI members from you, email it to me, and I will send it out now, just as I have for years for NACHI discounts from vendors, chapter meeting announcements, legislative meetings, etc. Recent example: http://www.nachi.org/wapublichearing2007.htm

[Nick Gromicko]

This law will greatly help NACHI (the association), greatly harm all inspectors (including NACHI members) with the exception of NACHI members in ASHI strong-hold markets (like Tampa). It will help NACHI members in Tampa, but at the expense of all other NACHI members.

It is completely association biasless in that it harms nearly all inspectors equally (by creating so much more competition in an already over-crowded market), with the exception that it is especially harmful to ASHI members in certain markets (like Tampa) and especially helpful to their direct NACHI competitors. It evenly harms NAHI members across the board as I'm quite sure that NAHI has no particular market dominance anywhere, including anywhere in Florida.

The law is an absolute poison pill for FABI, you can kiss them goodnight.

[gporter]

Thanks Nick.

[Nick Gromicko]

I had a connection that allowed me to tell the governor direct that I opposed this legislation. The response was the same as that of the sponsor... "what are you crying about, we're giving everyone 3 years to get their license."

There is a very big silver lining (for NACHI members only) around this FL licensing cloud .

[PAUL J. MAGRONE]

Who wants to get this e-mail thing done. Better late than never. Jay, I have read most of what you have had to say in the way of your input on this bill and would ask you to author the e-mail that Nick has agreed to send out. I would like to see it go to all NACHI members and then to Brett Rayman at "chuckles office. Jeff Kottkamp's office as well. If that is possible, we should do it. What have we got to lose? I know I am all over the board on this but have been extremely active. If the bill passes I can honestly say there are a handful of NACHI members that gave it all they had. Take Nick up on his offer and let's do the e-mails. Tell me how I can help and I will do what I can. I do not want to see this industry turned over to the government of Florida.

jeff.kottkamp@myflorida.com
Brett.Rayman@LASPBS.STATE.FL.US
Kelley.smith@myflorida.com
Freda.King@eog.myflorida.com