Section 633.022, Florida Statutes, was amended by Section 51, Chapter 2010-176, Laws of Florida, to require licensed fire equipment dealers and permittees to take 16 hours of continuing education every two years instead of 32 hours every four years. ...

DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES
Division of State Fire Marshal

Rule No. : RULE TITLE :
69A-21.113: Required Continuing Education
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: Section 633.022, Florida Statutes, was amended by Section 51, Chapter 2010-176, Laws of Florida, to require licensed fire equipment dealers and permittees to take 16 hours of continuing education every two years instead of 32 hours every four years. The due date for the hours was changed from every four years on the anniversary of initial licensure to the renewal date of December 31, 2011 and every odd numbered year thereafter. The purpose of the rule is to comport with statute and provide a transition mechanism.
SUMMARY: Sixteen hours of continuing education will be required every two years on December 31, 2011 and every odd numbered year thereafter, except that licensees and permittees whose authorizations were issued within one year of the due date are only required to submit eight hours.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS: 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. An SERC has been prepared 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: 633.01, 633.061(4) FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 633.061 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: Tuesday, June 21, 2011, 10:00 a.m. (or immediately following the conclusion of the Rule 69A-38.020, F.A.C. hearing).
PLACE: Conference Room 313, The Atrium Building, 325 John Knox Road, Tallahassee, Florida
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 5 days before the workshop/meeting by contacting: Jim Goodloe, Chief, Bureau of Fire Prevention, 200 E. Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0342, [e-mail], [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: Jim Goodloe, Chief, Bureau of Fire Prevention, 200 E. Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0342, [e-mail], [phone]

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

69A-21.113 Required Continuing Education.

(1) No change.

(2) The continuing education course or combination of courses shall be related to the scope of each license and each permit held. All licensed fire equipment dealers are required to complete at least one hour of a workplace safety class, one hour of a business practices class, and one hour of a workers’ compensation class, and fourteen hours of technical content as part of the required continuing education for license renewal each two four year period, except that a licensee who receives an initial license issued for 1 year or less shall be required to complete 50 percent of the required hours for a biennial license. All permitted fire equipment permittees are required to complete at least one hour of a workplace safety class, one hour of a business practices class and fourteen hours of technical content as part of the required continuing education for permit renewal each two year period, except that a permittee who receives an initial permit issued for 1 year or less shall be required to complete 50 percent of the required hours for a biennial permit. All current licenseholders and permitholders, regardless of any previous continuing education due date, must provide proof of sixteen hours of continuing education for renewal on December 31, 2011 and every two year period thereafter.

(3) through (10) No change.

(11) The licenseholder or permitholder shall submit proof of completion of the required course or courses to the Regulatory Licensing Section on Form DFS-K3 DI4-393, “Fire Equipment Continuing Education Coursework,” amended________, revised and dated 03/00, as adopted and incorporated herein by reference. Form DFS-K3 DI4-393 may be obtained by writing Bureau of Fire Prevention, Regulatory Licensing Section, 200 East Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0342. Each licenseholder or permitholder will be notified by the Regulatory Licensing Section, in writing, if the continuing education course work submitted does not satisfy the continuing education requirement in Section 633.061(3)(a), F.S. No notification will be given over the telephone.

(12) No change.

Rulemaking Specific Authority 633.01, 633.061(4) FS. Law Implemented 633.061 FS. History–New 2-7-89, Amended 10-20-93, 11-21-01, Formerly 4A-21.113, Amended________.

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Jim Goodloe, Chief, Bureau of Fire Prevention
NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Jeff Atwater, Chief Financial Officer
DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: April 26, 2011
DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAW: December 30, 2010