New Florida 1802 wind/Mit Form

[Michael J. Meeker]

Well at least that is some good news.

[Richard Murphy]

Somehow I don't think the clerks at Citizens will see it my way!

[Steve Taylor]

Good Morning all, Some bad news with respect to wind mitigation inspections: Senator Bennett has caved to special interests (insurance industry lobby) and removed the provision from his bill SB 648 that would have formally recognized licensed home inspectors as authorized to complete the wind mitigation inspection and form. He has also removed reference to the MSFH inspectors. - So it looks like they are out as well. You can view the changes by going to www.flsenate.gov and then put in 648 into the bill tracker at the left side of the page. Once on the bill look for bar code amendment 503278. Click on the PDF of that amendment and go to lines 2004-2006. That amendment would have recognized licensed home inspectors as approved to sign of on wind mits in FS 627.711. Senator Bennett filed the next bar code amendment at 5:00 PM last night. See bar code amendment 834342. Click on the PDF and go to pages 76-77 and look at lines 2141-2204. That amendment removes licensed home inspectors from the list in 627.711 that was in his earlier version of his bill. It also makes several other changes to the requirements. This bill will go before the Senate Community Affairs Committee tomorrow at 8 AM. He was required to have any amendments posted by 5PM last night. It appears that he waited till the last minute to post it so we would not have time to complain and he would not have to defend the change. It is very disappointing how our elected officials can be influenced by special interests- rather that doing the right thing. For those of you that live in Senator Bennett's district, perhaps you could call his office to voice your concern and disappointment with him. This change will limit the choices for the consumer and exclude licensed home inspectors from doing inspections.

[Richard A. Thurman]

Okay, Steve or others, where do we go from here? I have to profess ignornace of the inner-workings of the legislative system. Can the language of the bill be changed as it procedes through the senate? Is it limited to up or down votes in the senate at this point? Do we have to wait until (or if) it passes the senate and moves to the house for changes to be made? At this point, what in your estimation, is the best way that we individually be sure our voices are heard by the right people.

On a related matter, both barcode versions of SB 648 appear to make a major change to the defination of "home inspection services" in the home inspector licensing section of this bill. The current defination appears to include 4-point, roof certification, and other limited system inspections as requiring a home inspector license. The proposed bill removes the wording "one or more of" from the defination and appears to remove some types of inspections from requiring a home inspection license. This is located at SB 648, barcode 834342, line 509. I may have missed it, but I haven't seen it mention before. It seems to me, if it is important that the public recieves at least some minimum level of quality on a home purchase inspection, the same should hold true for an older home where an insurer requires a 4-point or other systems inspections.

[Harry McBride]

So who will do wind mitigation inspections?

[Brian C. Hoagland]

The question really is who has the training and info to do them correctly? Right now we know who can do them, it is written on the form. No one has an answer as to how to fill that form out and it is not written in a manner that eliminates confusion, interpretation and consternation. It is written to create liability, confusion and consternation. Especially the latter for the most intelligent among us.

[Michael J. Meeker]

Originally Posted by hmcbride

So who will do wind mitigation inspections?

minimum wagers and some hack will sign off on them. $19.99 is my prediction. The market will be overflowing with wannabe inspectors. the only way to do it right is the person who does the inspection signs it and is responsible. it looks like that is not going to happen so good luck to you all.

[PAUL J. MAGRONE]

Any news on the home inspection law regarding the proposed changes submitted by the DBPR with regards to grandfathering? Have they been accepted yet. The session is over as of today right?

[Tony D. Merced]

Wow so we can perform wind inspection under our name if we take this class?

[Michael J. Meeker]

It would be up to the insurance provider to decide. It does not say that a Licensed home inspector can do it on the form. but it does say whoever the insurance agency deems qualified can do it. Get ready for $19.99 prices. Good luck.