It has been a busy three weeks for the FSPA Government
Relations team. From the CILB to legislative meetings we have been traveling
around the state talking about pool industry issues and working to make our
legislative agenda reality.
Last week was the first legislative committee week of the
2020 legislative session, it was the first time since the close of the 2019
session in May that legislators convened in Tallahassee to talk policy for next
year’s session. The FSPA Government Relations spent two days meeting with
meeting with Senators and Representatives to talk about the FSPA Exemption
which would exempt swimming pool and spa contractors from the requirement to
hire licensed sub-contractors and how the State of Florida can invest in
teaching Florida’s children how to swim. The meetings that had were positive
and we got a lot of great feedback from legislators.
FSPA has also been making the rounds to meet legislators in
their home districts. The FSPA Government Relations Team and FSPA Members form
the Florida West Coast Chapter and the Manasota Chapter attended meetings with
Speaker of the House Designate Rep. Chris Sprowls, Rep. Chris Latvala, and
Senator Joe Gruters this week. On
Wednesday night the FSPA Broward and Pam Beach Chapters held a joint legislative
mixer in Boca Raton where they were joined by Rep. Bobby DuBose, Rep. Mike
Caruso, and Senator Bobby Powell’s top legislative aid. The legislative mixer
was a huge success and it was great opportunity for FSPA members and
legislators to have positive small group discussions about the pool industry
and some of the challenges that the industry faces.
Lastly, the Florida Building Commission has published the
Building Code modifications that were accepted by the Commission at the August
13, 2019 meeting. All of the accepted
modifications will be published for public review before becoming the 2017
Building Code Supplement in six months, the modifications will also be
incorporated in the 2020 Florida Building Code which will take effect on
12/31/2020. Tracking charts and information about the accepted code
modifications can be found by CLICKING HERE.
Please keep your eyes open for more FSPA Government
Relations updates, the 2020 legislative session will start to heat up in the
next few weeks and we will have updates on the bills being filed in
Tallahassee.
Got a
Government Affairs Question or Issue?
Call
Dallas at 941-952-9293