Correct a cross-reference and implement a system of self-affirmation for revisions to accredited courses.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
Division of Housing and Community Development

Rule No.: RULE TITLE
9B-70.002: Commission Approval and Accreditation of Advanced Building Code Training Courses
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: Correct a cross-reference and implement a system of self-affirmation for revisions to accredited courses.
SUMMARY: The Florida Building Commission updates the building code every three years. Courses accredited by the Commission often require minor modification for consistency with the updated code. The rule is amended to permit an expeditious process for accreditation of the revisions to accredited courses resulting from code changes that relies upon affirmation by the course provider. A cross-reference is also corrected.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS: No Statement of Estimated Regulatory Cost was prepared.
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.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: 553.841(2) FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 553.841 FS.
IF REQUESTED WITHIN 21 DAYS OF THE DATE OF THIS NOTICE, A HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE,TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW(IF NOT REQUESTED, THIS HEARING WILL NOT BE HELD):
DATE AND TIME: August 17, 2010, 10:00 a.m. or as soon thereafter as the matter comes before the Commission in accordance with its agenda
PLACE: Department of Community Affairs, Sadowski Building, Room 250L, 2555 Shumard Oak Boulevard, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2100
Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this workshop/meeting is asked to advise the agency at least 7 days before the workshop/meeting by contacting: Ila Jones, Community Program Administrator, Department of Community Affairs, 2555 Shumard Oak Boulevard, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2100, [phone]. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service, 1(800)955-8771 (TDD) or 1(800)955-8770 (Voice).
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Ila Jones, Community Program Administrator, Department of Community Affairs, 2555 Shumard Oak Boulevard, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2100, [phone]

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

9B-70.002 Commission Approval and Accreditation of Advanced Building Code Training Courses.

(1) through (3)(e) No change.

(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. 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 reaccredit at ion process must be noted on the application. Accreditation of revisions to approved accredited courses and courses in alternative formats 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 these 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 requires revision to correct or update a reference, table, diagram, or quoted provision of code, law, or administrative rule, the training provider may submit the revised course and complete Form 9B-70.002(4)(a), effective________, adopted herein by reference and available from the Building Code Information System at www.floridabuilding.org. The training provider must list the exact change, the specific location of the change, and reason for the change in the course and affirm this is the only change. The 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)(4)(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) through (m) No change.

(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, _________.

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Ila Jones, Community Program Administrator, Department of Community Affairs, 2555 Shumard Oak Boulevard, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2100, [phone]
NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Florida Building Commission
DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: April 7, 2010
DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAW: March 19, 2010