This bill amends various sections of Florida Statutes related to construction contracting, primarily focusing on enhancing contractor education and standardizing disciplinary procedures. It mandates that a portion of the 14 classroom hours required for contractor certificateholders or registrants' continuing education must cover financial literacy and basic consumer protection principles. Additionally, the bill establishes a new section requiring the Department of Business and Professional Regulation to create a standardized disciplinary form for local construction regulation boards to report violations uniformly. Local boards must also search an automated information system for recorded disciplinary actions before issuing licenses or registrations.

Further amendments include stipulations for contractors regarding the timely completion of projects and the handling of consumer deposits. Contractors must work without unreasonable delay after a specified period and provide a completion schedule upon request. If a consumer cancels a project, the contractor is required to return the deposit within 30 days, retaining only the portion spent on the project. The bill also introduces penalties for violations related to misrepresentation and establishes disciplinary actions for contractors who fail to comply with these new requirements. The effective date for these changes is set for July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
S 1262 Filed: 489.111, 489.115, 489.119, 489.131
S 1262 c1: 489.115, 489.119, 489.131