AB655-ASA1,1,6 1An Act to amend 440.973 (3), 440.974 (2) and 440.975 (3) (cm); and to create
2440.972 (1) (bg) and (br), 440.972 (1m), 440.974 (1) (ag) and (ar), 440.975 (3)
3(bm) and 440.975 (3) (cr) of the statutes; relating to: regulation of home
4inspectors, extending the time limit for emergency rule procedures, providing
5an exemption from emergency rule procedures, and granting rule-making
6authority.

Under current law, subject to certain exceptions, no individual may act as a
home inspector, use the title “home inspector," use any title or description that
implies that he or she is a home inspector, or represent himself or herself to be a home
inspector unless the individual is registered with the Department of Safety and
Professional Services. Similarly, no business entity may provide home inspection
services, and no business entity may use the title “home inspectors" to describe the
business entity's services, unless each of the home inspectors employed by the
business entity is so registered. In order to become a registered home inspector, an
individual must not have a disqualifying criminal record and must pass an
examination approved by DSPS. The practice of home inspectors is governed by

statutes and by rules promulgated by DSPS. This bill does the following with respect
to the law governing home inspectors:

1. Requires, in order to be granted a home inspector registration, that an
individual complete 120 hours of instruction and 40 hours of field training, as well
as the requirements under current law.

2. Provides for reciprocal registration of home inspectors licensed in other
states who have comparable or more stringent requirements.

3. Adjusts the contents that a report submitted by a home inspector to a client
is required to contain, including by adding a number of required elements for the
report, such as a summary page with required statements, and requiring defects to
be labeled as defects if they satisfy the legal definition of defect.

AB655-ASA1,2,62 440.972 (1) (bg) Submits evidence satisfactory to the department that he or she
3has completed at least 120 hours of instruction approved by the department under
4s. 440.974 (1) (ag). No more than 60 hours of the required hours may be satisfied
5through remote learning, online programs or other comparable means that do not
6involve in-person, classroom instruction.

AB655-ASA1,2,107 (br) Submits evidence satisfactory to the department that he or she has
8completed at least 40 hours of field training approved by the department under
9under s. 440.974 (1) (ar) that is conducted by a home inspector registered in this
10state.