Fla. H.B. 117 to Require Certification for Mold Remediation Professionals

Legislation to require mold professionals working in Florida to be trained, licensed and certified has been filed by Rep. Carl J. Domino (R-West Palm Beach). House Bill 117, co-sponsored by Rep. Franklin Sands (D-Weston), is waiting for committee references from the House Speaker’s Office to be considered during the 2005 Florida Legislative Session.

Domino filed the measure during the 2004 legislative session, but the mold issue has received increased public concern due to the impact of last year’s catastrophic hurricane season. In support of his effort, Domino touts a statewide coalition of mold professionals and advocate groups, including the Florida Coalition for Healthy Indoor Environments and the American Indoor Air Quality Association. These groups, along with constituents who urged for the bill, plan to help lobby H.B. 117 during the legislative session.

“It’s pretty simple, the industry that provides healthy indoor air quality, as well as the public it is responsible for protecting, support basic training, certification and licensure in order to more reliably and effectively deal with mold,” Domino said. “The industry is willing to pay the tab of a basic regulatory program designed to help the public. There is no general revenue or fiscal impact associated in the bill.

“Right now, you and I could call ourselves mold remediators and hang out a shingle,” Domino explained. “The issue has just become to important people’s lives to allow for confusion or fraud.”

The education and examination requirements of HB 117 have largely been adopted from recognized national industry organizations, such as the American Indoor Air Quality Association, that offer voluntary certification to its members. HB 117 allows private entities to offer the certification and training requirements called for in the bill. It also adds a seat for a licensed mold remediation professional to the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board within the Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

Currently 23 other states, including California and Texas require professional mold remediators to be licensed through certification and training.

Topics Florida Legislation Training Development