Meeting was called to order at 1:00 p.m., October 14, 2008

1. Review and Approval of the October 2008 Agenda

Delete all courses, except Course Number 321.0, under item 5, move the course under item 6 up to item 5, and eliminate item 6.

Motion: Jon Hamrick

Second: Steve Bassett

Approved Unanimously

Motion: To approve as amended

Motion: Jon Hamrick

Second: Steve Bassett

Approved Unanimously

2. Review and Approval of September 2008 Minutes

Motion: To approve as submitted

Motion: _________________

Second: ________________

Approved Unanimously

3. Discussion on rule development workshop on BCIS Accreditation Module and Forms, Amendments to Rule 9B-70.002, Florida Administrative Code.

Rule workshop scheduled for October 15, 2008. Jim Richmond did not find concerns about notice for consideration of changes other than form numbers and descriptions as the published notice was adequate to cover.

Chair Browdy posed the question as to whether, in subsection (6), the term “revocation” is temporary or permanent. Chair Browdy suggested it be changed to suspension.

Herminio Gonzalez raised questions about the meaning of a minimum of 2% and time limits. Jim Richmond suggested that “minimum” gives more flexibility and recommended staying away from “random” audits. Jim Richmond suggested that it be made clear that the 2% cannot be just one provider or accreditor.

Larry Schneider suggested that the term “student” should be replaced with “attendee” given the nature of these courses.

Med Kopczynski stated that the original rule applied the audit to “submitted” courses and, over time, it was changed to “approved” courses. The second sentence is not needed.

Steve Bassett suggested that the second sentence should say any course audited and found (insert standard or deficiency) should be reported to the FBC Education POC.

Sharon Mignardi suggested removal of the word “current.” Ila Jones and Cam Fentriss disagreed and suggested including “current or adopted.”

Jim Richmond stated the next step is to move forward with rule adoption for the December meeting.

4. Discussion on course audit and course audit form and report on current provisions in rule

Cam Fentriss stated that no discussion was needed since no form is needed.

5. Review pending accredited courses for recommendation to the Commission

Course: Advanced 2007 Florida Building Code; Administrative Responsibilities

(Internet Course)

Provider: Construction Estimating Institute

Accreditor: BCIC LLC

BCIS Course Number: 321.0

Motion: Course approved based on the FBC accreditation process that only verifies the accuracy of the Florida Building Code related content.

Motion: Jon Hamrick

Second: Steve Bassett

Approved Unanimously

Course: Roof Tile Installation Recommendations Based on the FRSA/TRI

Concrete & Clay Tile Installation M

Provider: FRSA – Florida Roofing, Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors

Association

Accreditor: JDB Code Services, Inc.

BCIS Course Number: 284.0

Motion: Course approved based on the FBC accreditation process that only verifies the accuracy of the Florida Building Code related content.

Motion: Jon Hamrick

Second: Steve Bassett

Approved Unanimously

6. Review administratively approved updated advanced courses for recommendation to Commission – None and agenda amended to reflect this.

7. Review pending accreditor applications for recommendation to the Commission

Application: Michael Rimoldi, Oak River Builders LLC

Cam Fentriss stated that information was not found on this application in a review of the FBC Education POC records for 2008 to date. Med Kopczynski stated he is certain this application was reviewed and committed to look for the record. Chair Browdy asked Cam Fentriss to determine the earlier status and report back at the next FBC Education POC meeting.

8. Presentation and discussion of draft proposal/resolution for legislation to eliminate the core course requirement

Jim Richmond reviewed and had no further comments.

Steve Bassett asked if elimination means that engineers no longer would be required to prove competency. Comments were made that the course alone does not determine competency.

Larry Schneider stated that the core was transitional and has outlived its usefulness.

Sharon Mignardi stated that the core now has very little technical information as it is mostly the history of the development of the Florida Building Code.

Herminio Gonzalez stated that not everyone who should have has taken the core and asked if it is fair to eliminate it and benefit those who are delinquent.

Steve Bassett expressed concern that building officials who check the website will no longer be able to see if this requirement was met.

Suggestion to add a date certain for elimination of requirement to complete. Ila Jones requests an end date so that the department will know when it is not longer responsible for keeping it up to date and otherwise managing it.

Steve Bassett expressed a concern that once it is eliminated/removed it is no longer grounds to deny a permit.

9. Presentation and discussion of comments provided on the draft Manual/Toolkit

No comments

10. Presentation and discussion of comments provided on the new BCIS test site

No comments

11. Education Administrator activity report

Chair Browdy asked Cam Fentriss to provide this report. The report was provided separately and is incorporating in below:

- Provided administrative support for FBC Education POC September 15, 2008 conference call

- Drafted minutes for FBC Education POC conference call on September 15, 2008

- Followed up on tasks assigned and questions raised at September 15, 2008 meeting:

- Research on incomplete accreditor application

- Research on course audit requirements (law or rules) by or for DBPR boards

- Drafted proposed changes to audit provision in rule 9B-70.002, FAC

- Reviewed proposed new process and system for new BCIS

- Disseminated new BCIS test site for review and comment from public

- Drafted proposed changes for new BCIS in rule 9B-70.002, FAC

- Preliminarily drafted short guidelines / checklists for provider registration

- Preliminarily drafted short guidelines / checklists for course application

- Drafted proposal for elimination of core course requirement (chapter 553, FS only)

- Prepared agenda for FBC Education POC meeting on October 14, 2008

- Assisted the public as follows:

23 E-mail inquiries

Summary of inquiries: Request for obsolete DCA course to use format;

correcting and clarifying requirements for course updating by 2007 code effective date of March 1, 2009; information about a course that should have been placed on agenda for approval in May; core course and advanced course inquiries; continuing education license requirements; posting of credits for building code courses.

19 Telephone inquiries

Summary of inquiries: Information about process and time deadlines for course

submission; information about core course completion; assistance with posting

attendance for advanced courses and core course;

12. Discussion of possible projects under Florida Building Code Compliance and Mitigation Program contract for 2008-2009

Chair Browdy stated that existing fact sheets should be reviewed for the need to update and there should be consideration of whether new fact sheets are needed.

Course audits need to be performed.

13. Identify future POC member discussion items

Steve Bassett expressed concern and interest in further discussion of meetings by conference call or in person.

14. General public comment

__________________________

15. Summary and review of meeting work products/action items, assignments, and next steps

Chair Browdy issued no other work assignments.

Adjourn (Adjourned at 2:23 p.m.)

Motion: To adjourn

Motion: Steve Bassett

Second: Herminio Gonzalez

Approved Unanimously

Recommended Commission Actions

The Education POC considered and recommends for approval changes to rule 9B-70.002, Florida Administrative Code, summarized as follows:

The primary reason for change relates to the upcoming launch of the new BCIS system and the updated forms for accreditor, provider, and course approval:

- Preparation for a change in the form numbers to reflect new forms

- Preparation for a change in the form names to ensure there is not confusion between old and new versions

- Provision for inserting the effective date of the new forms

A number of general clarifying changes are proposed to make the rule more user friendly for the benefit of accreditors, providers, and the public:

- Correction to a reference in the existing rule

- Changes to ensure consistency to prevent reader confusion

- Corrections to clarify intent of requirements

- Clarification that the Commission may suspend (rather than revoke) deficient accreditor qualifications until such time as the accreditor is in compliance

- Add specificity to the course auditing provision to make it clear that course instruction must be to the current or approved version of the Florida Building Code

- Modification to the course audit provision to apply auditing to approved courses (rather than submitted courses) and specify that auditing will be of a minimum of 2% of approved courses and the audited courses cannot be limited to one provider or courses reviewed by a specific accreditor

Several changes are proposed to better structure the rule provisions:

- Accreditor requirements for accessibility course review moved to a more appropriate section

- Requirements for training provider registration grouped in a separate section and placed before the course application requirements (as provider registration is a prerequisite for submitting a course)

- More appropriate segregation of Commission duties as to accreditation, course development, and auditing of courses.

The following new courses are recommended for approval:

Course: Advanced 2007 Florida Building Code; Administrative Responsibilities

(Internet Course)

Provider: Construction Estimating Institute

Accreditor: BCIC LLC

BCIS Course Number: 321.0

Motion: Course approved based on the FBC accreditation process that only verifies the accuracy of the Florida Building Code related content.

Motion: Jon Hamrick

Second: Steve Bassett

Approved Unanimously

Course: Roof Tile Installation Recommendations Based on the FRSA/TRI

Concrete & Clay Tile Installation M

Provider: FRSA – Florida Roofing, Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors

Association

Accreditor: JDB Code Services, Inc.

BCIS Course Number: 284.0

Motion: Course approved based on the FBC accreditation process that only verifies the accuracy of the Florida Building Code related content.

Motion: Jon Hamrick

Second: Steve Bassett

Approved Unanimously

The Education POC considered and recommends for approval legislation to eliminate the core course and requirement as specified in the draft changes to chapter 553, Florida Statutes, included with the Education POC October agenda.

Note: This document is available in alternate formats upon request to the Department of Community Affairs, Codes and Standards, 255 Shumard Oak Blvd., Tallahassee, Fl. 32399, (850) 487 – 1824.