: The purpose and effect of the rule development is to clarify and update the criteria for approval of course providers, course accreditors, and advance course accreditation by the Commission.

 

DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION
Florida Building Commission

RULE NO.: RULE TITLE:
61G20-6.002: Commission Approval and Accreditation of Advanced Building Code Training Courses
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: : The purpose and effect of the rule development is to clarify and update the criteria for approval of course providers, course accreditors, and advance course accreditation by the Commission.
SUMMARY: The amendments clarify and update the criteria for approval of course providers, course accreditors, and advance course accreditation by the Commission.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS AND LEGISLATIVE RATIFICATION:
The Agency has determined that this will not have an adverse impact on small business or likely increase directly or indirectly regulatory costs in excess of $200,000 in the aggregate within one year after the implementation of the rule. A SERC has not been prepared by the agency.
The Agency has determined that the proposed rule is not expected to require legislative ratification based on the statement of estimated regulatory costs or if no SERC is required, the information expressly relied upon and described herein: the economic review conducted by the agency.
Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: 553.77(1)(i), 553.842(1) FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 553.842(1), (2) FS
IF REQUESTED WITHIN 21 DAYS OF THE DATE OF THIS NOTICE, A HEARING WILL BE SCHEDULED AND ANNOUNCED IN THE FAR.
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Mo Madani, Planning Manager, Department of Business and Professional Regulation, 2555 Shumard Oak Boulevard, Sadowski Building, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2100, [phone]

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

61G20-6.002  Commission Approval and Accreditation of Advanced Building Code Training Courses.

(1) through (2) No change.

(3) Training Provider Registration and Requirements.

(a) Training providers approved by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation who desire Commission approval and accreditation for advanced building code courses shall register with the Building Code Information System using the Register Training Provider function and associated online screens, Form FBC-ED-002, effective September 10, 2010, adopted herein by reference and available from the Building Code Information System at www.floridabuilding.org/ce/ce_tporgapp_dtl1.aspx, and pay a registration fee of $25.00.

(b) Registered training providers shall submit materials and information pertaining to courses for which Commission accreditation and approval is sought utilizing the Submit a Course Application function and associated online screens, Form FBCED 2003-03, effective October 2012, September 10, 2010, adopted herein by reference and available from the Building Code Information System at http://www.floridabuilding.org/ce/ce_default.aspx www.floridabuilding.org.

(c) The provider shall select an approved accreditor and shall provide payment for services directly to the accreditor. The accreditor selected shall meet the criteria for independence identified in paragraph (d) and shall be listed with the expertise in the field for which approval is sought.

(d) Upon submittal by a training provider, the selected accreditor shall receive an e-mail notification from the Building Code Information System at www.floridabuilding.org and shall review the materials provided by the provider in accordance with the criteria identified herein. The accreditor shall complete the application by providing comments containing the results of the accreditor’s review and approving or denying accreditation of the course updating the accreditation approval status on the Building Code Information System.  An accreditor may not approve for accreditation a course application that is not complete and accurate as specified in subsection (4).   The accreditor shall also provide a certification of independence that attests the person or entity does not have, nor does it intend to acquire or will acquire, a financial interest in the training provider seeking accreditation.

(e) The Building Code Information System www.floridabuilding.org shall assign an accreditation number to the application upon submittal. The application shall be accredited completely and placed in the “Pending FBC Action” file on the Building Code Information System at http://www.floridabuilding.org/ce/ce_tp_coursetrp_dtl.aspx www.floridabuilding.org no later than 23 calendar days prior to the next scheduled meeting of the Florida Building Commission.  The Commission or its designee shall finalize the accreditation process utilizing the Building Code Information System at www.floridabuilding.org and notify the provider and accreditor within 3 business days of the Florida Building Commission’s action on the applications.  If a provider has not taken any action on a submitted but incomplete application in 180 days, the Commission may withdraw the application.

(f) On or before the effective date of changes to the Florida Building Code, providers shall either designate on the Building Code Information System at www.floridabuilding.org that the course is not affected by the code changes or update the existing accredited courses affected by the code changes and submit for accreditation on the Building Code Information System at http://www.floridabuilding.org/ce/ce_default.aspx. If the course is not affected by the code changes, the course’s status shall remain active. The code version that initiated the update and reaccreditation process must be noted on the application. Accreditation of revisions to approved accredited courses shall be accomplished in the same manner as described in paragraphs (a) through (f) hereof, except that only the revision submitted shall be subject to review. and Tthese courses shall be approved by the administrator of the education program subject to ratification by the Florida Building Commission.

(g) If an approved accredited course is not affected by the code change or requires revision to correct or update a reference, table, diagram, or quoted provision of code, law, or administrative rule, the training provider shall may submit the revised course and complete Form FBC-ED-002, effective September 10, 2010, adopted herein by reference and available from the Building Code Information System at http://floridabuilding.org/ce/ce_tporgapp_dtl1.aspx www.floridabuilding.org. The code version must be noted on the application.  If a correction or update is required, the training provider must list the exact correction or update change, the specific location of the correction or update change, and reason for the change in the course and affirm this is the only correction or update to the course change. The correction or update changes to the course shall be approved by the administrator of the education program subject to ratification by the Florida Building Commission.

(h) A change to the delivery format of an approved accredited course must be submitted for accreditation.

(4) Course Content and Accreditor Review. Accreditors shall review courses submitted by registered providers to determine if the course accurately presents the technical and administrative responsibilities reflected in the current edition of the Florida Building Code, or future editions of the Code if the accreditor is reviewing a course revised to comply with an updated edition of the Florida Building Code in accordance with paragraph (3)(f) of this rule or Florida Statutes or rules related to the Florida Building Code. Accreditors shall not mutually accredit each others’ courses. The accreditor shall determine if the course meets the following minimum criteria:

(a) Course title and number. The word “advanced” and, if appropriate, “internet” shall be in the title;

(b) Hours of credit;

(c) Name, address, telephone number and e-mail address of the provider;

(d) Course description completely describing what the particular course is designed to address;

(e) Course/learning objectives;

(f) Course time allotments for course content;

(g) Course outline and instructional methods – detailed description of course content in sequence of how taught and methods used to teach that content.  The following instructional methods are authorized, but are not limited to: exercises, quizzes, discussion groups, reading assignments, projects, simulations and presentations;

(h) Code edition to which the course relates;

(i) Course references cited in the outline;

(j) Method of course evaluations;

(k) A minimum of 50% of the actual training materials content shall be related to the Florida Building Code or Florida Statutes or rules related to the Florida Building Code;

(l) Course materials shall accurately reflect the Florida Building Code and other topics under the jurisdiction of the Florida Building Commission; and

(m) Course materials provided to the attendee shall be provided to by the accreditor.

(5) through (7) No change.

Rulemaking Authority 553.841(2) FS. Law Implemented 553.841 FS. History–New 6-8-05, Amended 4-30-07, 6-12-08, 3-4-09, 11-2-09, 1-9-11,________.

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Florida Building Commission

NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Florida Building Commission

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: May 18, 2012

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: April 27, 2012