LEGISLATIVE TELECONFERENCE MEETING
May 4, 2015
10:00 AM
COMMISSIONERS
PRESENT:
Chairman
Browdy Jeffrey
Gross
Steven
Bassett Jeff Stone
James
Batts Donald
Brown
Bob
Boyer Brad
Schiffer
Nan
Dean Fred
Schilling
Kevin
Flanagan Jim
Schock
David
Gilson David
Compton
COMMISSIONERS
NOT PRESENT:
Hamid
Bahadori
E.J.
Carlson Drew
Smith
Oscar
Calleja Charlie
Frank
Tim
Tolbert Robert
Hamberger
Brian
Languille Beth
Meyer
Brian
Swope Jeff
Goff
Darrell
Phillips
OTHERS
PRESENT:
Jim
Richmond Mo
Madani
April
Hammonds Jim
Hammers
Welcome:
Mr. Jim Richmond
opened the meeting with the approval of Chairman Browdy at 10:00 am Monday, May
4, 2015 and agreed that Mr. Richmond should begin with the roll call.
Roll Call:
Mr. Richmond
called the roll twice and a quorum was determined.
Approval of
Agenda:
Chairman
Browdy asked for a motion to approve the agenda. Motion provided by Bob Boyer and seconded by
David Compton. Unanimously approved.
Introduction and background:
Mr. Richmond reported to the members that the Legislature convened last week and, being unable to reach an accord on budget issues, the House [of Representatives] went home a couple of days early and before the primary building code vehicle, HB 915 and companion SB1232 could be heard on the floor of the Senate. That leaves the last version of HB915 pending in the Senate with the repeal of legislative ratification and several other issues outstanding, which were unacceptable to the Senate, leaving that bill temporarily postponed and ultimately died, along with several other bits of legislation. There are several issues in that bill that were important to some [individuals] and we will now have to move forward and see what happens. Information is they will convene for Special Session on budget. It is possible that some or all of these issues may return and surface during that Special Session. However, Mr. Richmond feels there will be an attempt to focus that Session solely on budget considering there are still substantial differences between the House and Senate and the Governor’s Office on what to do with the budget. However, building code issues have a history of getting involved in Special Session. The final extension of the 2001 Edition [of the Florida Building Code] having come in the Special Session following 9/11. The staff will continue to watch and work on, as necessary.
Chairman Browdy provided that he has received substantial communications from members of the industry who were expecting some type of relief or action on the bills that they had prioritized. They did not even receive a hearing on those bills. The House Bill versions had been discussed, however, since the House left; there was no way to discuss reconciliation in the House by the Senate. Because of this, members of the industry, to put it mildly, are somewhat in distress over those issues which they anticipated getting a hearing on.
Chairman Browdy stated, “It has always been our [The Commission’s] policy, and it is one of our selling features that we are an open body and available to the public, specifically to members of the industry, to discuss issues rather than use the floor of the Legislature. During this meeting in Gainesville, in June, it is important that we put on the agenda, the opportunity for Members to discuss alternatives, or possibility of alternatives, to receive any relief on these pressing issues and to give them an appropriate hearing.” Chairman Browdy asked that Director Richmond add this to the appropriate place on agenda.
Member, Jim Schock was in agreement, and asked if the Commission, if appropriate, could send out an informational guidance for people so that they might accept certain things.
Director Richmond explained that this could create ‘Non-Rule Policy’ and would not be advisable. We have the opportunity to respond to specific facts and circumstances through declaratory statements and that offers a good avenue to achieve the functional equivalent.
Mr. Schock asked specifically about the Fire Safety Bill, as whether it died. Not knowing the bill number, it was presumed that, if it did not get passed by both Houses by Tuesday, [April 28, 2015], it most likely died.
Member Brad Schiffer, asked when would be the appropriate time to request declaratory statements on the next [2014 5th Edition of the Florida Building] Code. Mr. Madani provided that they would need to wait until the Code was in effect. Attorney, April Hammonds, stated that they could file by the due date, and after June 6, 2015, so as to be heard in the August Commission meeting.
Public Comment:
None provided.
Closing Comments:
With closing comments to reiterate that agenda provide for discussion during June meeting, Chairman Browdy asked for a motion to dismiss which was provided by Member, Brad Schiffer and seconded by David Compton.
Second Roll Call:
Chairman, Dick Browdy
James Batts
Steve Bassett
Bob Boyer
Don Brown
David Compton
Nan Dean
Kevin Flanagan
Jeff Gross
Brad Schiffer
Fred Schilling
Jim Schock
Geoff Stone
David Gilson
Having full quorum remaining, motion to adjourn was voted upon with a unanimous approval.
Meeting adjourned at 10:18am.